Stress In Children Research Articles

The bidirectional associations between caregiver and child symptoms in the parent-led treatment stepping together for children after trauma

BackgroundAn innovative approach to child trauma treatment in which caregivers are allocated treatment tasks has shown promising results, but less is known about the bidirectional associations between caregiver and child symptoms during treatment. MethodsEighty-two child-caregiver dyads who participated in the parent-led therapist-assisted Stepping Together for Children after Trauma (ST-CT) were included (child age: 7–12 years, mean = 9.9 years). Caregivers' emotional reactions and anxiety/depression and children's posttraumatic stress (PTS) and depression were assessed pretreatment, mid-treatment, and posttreatment. We investigated the possible directional associations between caregivers' emotional reactions and anxiety/depression and children's PTS and depression using random intercept cross-lagged panel models. ResultsSymptoms improved in both caregivers and children. Lower levels of caregiver emotional reactions at pretreatment predicted improved child PTS at mid-treatment; lower levels of caregiver emotional reactions at mid-treatment predicted improved child depression at posttreatment; and lower levels of child PTS at mid-treatment predicted improved caregiver emotional reactions at posttreatment. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that caregivers and children can impact each other's responses to a parent-led child trauma-focused treatment. Notably, children with caregivers who were less affected by their own emotional reactions exhibited greater improvement in both PTS and depression. Supporting the caregivers may benefit both children and caregivers. Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04073862; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04073862.

Pesantren As Convalescence of Children's Mental Health: A Case Study at The Asy-Syarifiy Islamic Eco-Boarding School Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia

The lockdown of Covid-19 has brought many significant changes to human routines in daily life, including for children, although now it has entered the endemic phase. The activities of children who usually go to school and play are very limited due to the lockdown so their activities are only limited at home which brings changes to the psychological state and mental health of children, such as excessive saturation, and gadget addiction. However, changes in children's mental health during the pandemic did not seem to occur much in children studying at pesantren, because teaching and learning activities at pesantren continued to run as usual, because despite the lockdown every day they still interacted with the same people. This article is descriptive qualitative research with a socio-religious approach that examines the role of pesantren in Lumajang named Asy-Syarifiy to heal mental disorders in children, and how the education system relates to the mental health of students. Data collection was carried out by involving observation, documentation, and in-depth interviews. This research found, first, some parents sent their children to the Asy-Syarifiy to deepen their religious knowledge while at the same time healing children who were stressed due to the pandemic. Second, outdoor learning methods and an eco-pesantren concept can reduce children's stress

Childhood stress, gender, and cognitive control: Midline theta power

The emergence of psychiatric symptoms is a common consequence of childhood stress exposure. However, there are a dearth of reliable clinical hallmarks or physiological biomarkers to predict post-trauma symptom emergence. The objective of this study was to examine if childhood stressors and stress-related symptoms are associated with altered midline theta power (MTP) during cognitive control demands, and how these associations interact with gender and early adversity. N = 53 children (ages 9–13 years old) from a longitudinal study of children maltreated during early childhood and non-maltreated children participated in this study. EEG recorded neural activity during a Zoo-Themed Go/No-Go task. Stress-related symptoms, recent stressful events, and other adversity experiences were identified. MTP was analyzed with clinical variables in a series of follow-up analyses. The number of stressors in the past six months was negatively correlated with MTP in those with low preschool adversity, but not in those with high preschool adversity. MTP was higher in girls than in boys, and the associations of MTP with stressors and symptoms were moderated by gender. MTP was negatively associated with stressors in the past six months in girls, while in boys, MTP was associated with stress-related symptoms. Childhood stressful events were associated with reduced MTP during cognitive control demands, and this was finding was moderated by gender and early life adversity. These preliminary findings suggest that boys and girls may process stressful experiences in distinct ways, and preschool adversity may potentially blunt the interaction between current stress and neural dynamics. However, ongoing investigation is needed.

Розлади харчової поведінки дітей внаслідок стресу, спричиненого війною: загальні результати дослідження

The purpose of the study is to determine eating disorders based on the results of a survey of parents and an analysis of the perception of the behavior of children aged 5-17 in conditions of stress caused by war. Research materials and methods. A large-scale cross-sectional survey of parents of school-age children who were in Ukraine at the time of the start of the war (February 24, 2022) was conducted. A total of 5,165 parents took part in the survey. The survey concerned eating disorders and included information about the gender, age, place and conditions of the child's stay, financial support and the family's access to food, general mental manifestations of stress, eating disorders that arose as a result of military operations, changes in the child's physique, etc. The work uses a specially developed questionnaire based on standardized questionnaires about children's stress and eating disorders. This stage of the work determines the peculiarities of the child's whereabouts in relation to military events (staying in occupied territories, in close proximity to hostilities, in peaceful territory, moving within Ukraine or going abroad) and their impact on the eating behavior of school-aged children. The processing of the results included descriptive statistics, as well as the analysis of the relationships of the variables using conjugation tables by calculating the Spearman's rank coefficient and Pearson's chi-square for qualitative variables. The results. It was established that the absence or decrease of appetite, rapid satiety, change in attitude to food are general stress disorders inherent in the entire studied cohort of children. Statistical analysis revealed that the frequency and duration of eating disorders, appetite, delayed satiety, capriciousness or lack of understanding, somato-vegetative manifestations, the formation of disgust or passion for certain food products in school-age children are related to the intensity and nature of the experienced military stress. Being in occupied territories or near hostilities and subsequent displacement has the greatest impact on the frequency and duration of eating disorders. The formation of long-term eating disorders in all groups is actually a deepening of unhealthy eating habits of schoolchildren, which were demonstrated in previous studies. It is expected that these violations will lead to an increase in the frequency of chronic non-communicable diseases in later life. Conclusions. The obtained results are important for the further interpretation of the results in the framework of the study of children's eating disorders under the conditions of stress caused by the war in Ukraine and providing recommendations for the correction of the detected violations. The research has an important social significance for Ukraine, as it is aimed at solving the psychological and medical consequences of the war.

Early learning difficulties, childhood stress, race, and risk of cognitive impairment among US adults over age 50: A cross-sectional analysis.

Most literature linking childhood factors to cognitive health outcomes has focused on educational attainment-defined as years of education attained. However, less has been studied about the other aspects of education, such as early learning problems, and stressful family environments. This study examined whether early learning problems and childhood stressors were associated with mid- and later life cognitive impairment among US adults, and if these associations varied by race. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) along with respondents' early educational experiences from the 2015 to 2017 Life History Mail Survey (N = 9703). Early learning problems were defined as having any of the following: scholastic problems (reading, writing, mathematics), speaking/language issues, and sensorimotor issues- hearing, vision, speech, and motor-coordination. Cognitive status was classified as three levels (normal, cognitively impaired not demented [CIND], and demented) using the HRS Langa-Weir algorithm. Multinomial logistic regression models using generalized logits, estimated relative risk ratios (RRRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with adjustment for sociodemographic factors. Having at least one early learning problem was associated with increased risk of later life cognitive impairment (RRR: 1.75, 95% CI: 1.34-2.29 for dementia, RRR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.20-1.67 for CIND). Parental death before the age of 16 was associated with 17% higher risk of CIND in later life (RRR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.01-1.34). However, learning problem-related differences in risk of cognitive impairment were dependent on race (learning problems × race, p = 0.0001). In the demented group, Blacks were 2.7 times more likely to be demented (RRR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.69-4.17) amongst older adults that experienced childhood learning problems. Early life exposures predicted risk of cognitive impairment. Policies and interventions that enhance diagnosis of early learning problems and improve childhood social contexts are needed to promote healthy cognitive aging amongst Americans, regardless of race.

Tracing early life histories from Roman times to the Medieval era: weaning practices and physiological stress

In humans, breastfeeding and weaning depend on the infant’s needs and physiology but are also influenced by environmental and cultural factors. While infant feeding strategies vary across different regions and historical eras, the associated transition from breastmilk to solid foods is universally thought to be stressful. However, still little is known about infant feeding practices and possibly associated stress in former times. This also applies to the period of transition from classical antiquity to medieval times, which shaped modern Western civilization. To enhance the understanding of childhood nutrition and stress during this period, we first analyzed stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in serial dentine samples from the first molars of 38 individuals buried in the region once known as the Roman frontier province of Raetia secunda, now encompassing Southern Bavaria. In addition, we investigated the presence of linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH), known to be a marker of unspecific physiological stress, within their dentition. We used this data to create isotope profiles that display dietary changes in comparison with the occurrence of LEH. We found highly variable δ15N and δ13C values and different shapes of isotope profiles which indicate different nutrition of breastfeeding individuals, complementary foods and post-weaning diets, and individual weaning patterns. For most individuals, the weaning process was completed between the ages of two and three. Interestingly, some females of non-local origin show longer weaning periods, likely displaying the influence of different cultural practices in other communities. We also found that LEH most frequently occurred in the post-weaning phase, which supports the assumption that children were at increased risk once breastfeeding had ceased completely. Furthermore, a change in the post-weaning diet in the seventh century coincided with an increased prevalence of LEH, indicating that the foods chosen or available during this time affected the susceptibility of children to stress. In conclusion, our study unveiled diverse infant feeding strategies practiced across various communities, both in different historical eras and geographical locations.

The Influence of Classroom Size and Window View on Young Children's Executive Functions and Physiological Responses, Based on VR Technology.

Despite the increasing enrollment of young children in childcare institutes, there have been few empirical studies on the effects of spatial elements on their development. This study explored the impact of preschool classroom size (large vs. small) and window view (natural vs. built environment) on young children's executive functions and physiological stress responses, using cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV) as indicators and employing virtual reality (VR) technology. Out of 144 participants aged 61-85 months, three were excluded due to missing values and outliers. Executive function tests were administered, and saliva samples were collected before and after VR exposure; HRV data were gathered during the experience. ANCOVA results indicated significant improvements in cognitive flexibility, as measured based on the Dimensional Change Card Sorting task, in the large classroom condition, and a marginally significant decrease in visuo-spatial working memory, as measured with the Corsi block task, in the small classroom condition. The classroom size conditions did not significantly differ in cortisol response, but the large classroom condition showed marginally significant HRV indices, suggesting increased relaxation. No significant effects on executive functions or physiological responses were found in either window view condition. Overall, the findings suggest that classroom size may influence young children's cognitive flexibility.

Childhood cumulative trauma, social support and stress as predictors of illness outcomes and quality of life in bipolar disorder.

Trauma, social support and stress have been identified as factors which may be associated with the bipolar disorder illness course. However, these are yet to be examined in prospective studies as predictors of illness outcomes and overall quality of life in bipolar disorder. One hundred and fourteen participants (N = 97; 85.1% female) living with bipolar disorder I (41.2%) or II (58.8%) completed a semi-structured interview and a range of self-report measures assessing trauma history, social support, perceived stress, depression, anxiety, mania, suicidality, number of mood episodes and quality of life, at baseline and 6-month follow-up. Childhood cumulative trauma, social support and perceived stress accounted for a substantial and significant portion of the variance in quality of life (62%; 23.6%), anxiety severity (34.6%; 24.5%) and depression severity (49.6%; 26.7%), at both baseline and 6-month follow-up. Perceived stress made significant unique contributions to the prediction of all outcomes, and social support made significant unique contributions to depression and quality of life in bipolar disorder. Stress and social support play an important role in bipolar disorder and in quality of life for people living with this condition. Given that stress and social support are modifiable risk factors, this provides a promising direction for future intervention-based research.

The Impact of Competitive Sports on Oral Health: Exploring Their Relationship with Salivary Oxidative Stress in Children.

This article explores the correlation between salivary biomarkers, such as glutathione peroxidase (GPX), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and their association with oral health for children in competitive sports. Saliva has emerged as a valuable resource for evaluating physiological and pathological conditions due to its non-invasive collection method and easy storage. This study examines the potential of GPX, TAC, and SOD as salivary biomarkers for assessing the impact of competitive sports on children's oral health. It discusses the potential implications of increased oxidative stress due to intense physical activity and the role of antioxidant defense mechanisms in maintaining oral health. In total, 173 children aged between 6 and 17 were divided into three groups, 58 hockey players, 55 football players, and 60 in the control group, and examined to assess their oral hygiene and dental and periodontal health. Saliva was collected, centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed for the relevant biomarkers. The findings seem to suggest that salivary biomarkers, like GPX, TAC, and SOD, might serve as indicators of the physiological response to competitive sports in children, as well as indicators of oral health, especially dental cavities, and periodontal disease. Statistical analysis showed significant differences between the groups, with better values for athletes, regardless of age, sex, or activity type. Understanding the relationship between salivary biomarkers and competitive sports in children can have significant implications for monitoring and optimizing the health and performance of young athletes. Further research is needed to establish the specific associations between these biomarkers and the effects of several types and intensities of sports activities on oral health in children.

Parental Feeding Style, Parenting Stress, and Child Mealtime Behaviors in Cystic Fibrosis.

Nutrition and weight gain significantly contribute to overall health outcomes in children with cystic fibrosis (CF). Strong emphasis is placed on these entities by the CF team, which can cause stress for parents and impact parent and child mealtime behaviors. The current study sought to investigate the relationship between parental feeding style, parenting stress, and parent and child mealtime behaviors in families of children with CF. Forty-five parents of a child with CF between the ages of 2 and 10 years were recruited during a CF clinic appointment. They completed surveys assessing child mealtime behaviors, parental feeding style, and parental stress. Medical data including body mass index (BMI) were collected from the medical record. There was a significant difference in behavioral feeding scores based on feeding style (F3,41 = 13.48, p<.001), with authoritarian parents reporting significantly greater mealtime behavior problems than all other parents. There was also a significant difference in parenting stress based on parental feeding style (F3,41=4.11, p<.05), with authoritarian parents showing more stress than authoritative parents (Mdiff=23.70, p<.05). Correlation analyses showed a positive relationship between behavioral feeding problems and parent stress, r(45)=0.403; p<.01. Data suggest parents using an authoritarian feeding style experience more stress and behavioral feeding problems than other parents. More feeding problems were also associated with more stress. Findings help determine how pediatric psychologists can intervene to support positive parenting behaviors that reduce children's mealtime behavior problems and parental stress, thus improving health outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Childhood Stress and its Homoeopathic Management

Childhood Stress and its Homoeopathic Management

부모의 성취압력이 아동 삶의 만족도에 미치는 영향

Objectives The primary objective of this research is to investigate the potential moderated mediating effect of grit in the relationship between parental achievement pressure, children's academic stress, and life satisfaction.&#x0D; Methods In pursuit of this aim, the research employed the data from the 11th wave (2018) of the Korean Children Panel Study conducted by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE), with a sample size of N=1,262. To ascertain the relationships between the main variables, preliminary descriptive statistics and Pearson correla-tion coefficients were examined. Mediation effects and moderated mediation effects were tested using the Process Macro programs 1, 4, and 7.&#x0D; Results Firstly, the direct effect of parental achievement pressure on children's life satisfaction was found to be non-significant. However, a significant indirect effect was observed, mediated by children's academic stress, in-dicating an indirect influence on life satisfaction. Secondly, children's grit was identified as a significant moderator, mitigating the impact of parental achievement pressure on children's stress and exerting a positive influence on their life satisfaction. Specifically, higher levels of children's grit were associated with a diminished conditional in-direct effect of parental achievement pressure on children's stress, ultimately leading to elevated levels of child-ren's life satisfaction.&#x0D; Conclusions To mitigate children's academic stress and enhance their life satisfaction, it is imperative to mitigate parental achievement pressure and foster children's grit.

Fatigue, pain interference, and psychiatric morbidity in multiple sclerosis: The role of childhood stress.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that affects nearly one million Americans. Despite the existence of immunomodulatory therapies to slow physical and cognitive disability progression, interventions to ameliorate common symptoms of MS, including fatigue and pain, remain limited. Poor understanding of risk factors for these symptoms may contribute to treatment challenges. In recent years, childhood stress has been investigated as a risk factor for chronic autoimmune conditions including MS; yet remarkably few studies have investigated the relationship between childhood stressors and chronic MS symptoms. Our aim was to examine clusters of stressors and three key features of MS: fatigue, pain interference, and psychiatric morbidity. Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of People with MS (PwMS) via a national web-based survey that assessed the presence and type of childhood stressors and MS clinical features. Hierarchical block regression was used to assess associations among emotional, physical, and environmental childhood stressors and three clinical features commonly experienced by PwMS. N = 719 adults with MS (aged 21-85) completed the survey. Childhood emotional and physical stressors were significantly associated with overall presence of fatigue (p = 0.02; p<0.03) and pain interference (p<0.001; p<0.001) in adulthood, as well as the magnitude of both outcomes. Environmental stressors (p<0.001), in addition to emotional (p<0.001) and physical (p<0.001) stressors were significantly associated with psychiatric morbidity in PwMS. Childhood stress may predict fatigue, psychiatric morbidity, and pain in adults with MS. Further research is needed to show cause and effect; however, if an association exists, strategies to mitigate the impact of childhood stress could offer new pathways to reduce the severity of these symptoms. Broadly, this work adds to the body of evidence supporting upstream preventive measures to help address the stress on children and families.

Parental psychopathology and posttraumatic stress in Puerto Ricans: the role of childhood adversity and parenting practices.

Parental psychopathology is associated with their children's posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). However, the mechanisms through which this occurs remain unclear. We hypothesized that exposure to childhood adversities is the mechanism linking parental psychopathology to child PTSS and that parenting practices moderated these associations. Participants (N = 1,402) with an average age of 24.03 years old (SD = 2.20), were all Puerto Ricans (50% Male and 50% Female) from the Boricua Youth Study, which is a four-wave longitudinal study spanning almost 20 years, following individuals from childhood (ages 5-13 at Wave 1) to young adulthood. Measured variables include parental psychopathology at Wave 1, childhood adversities and parenting practices at Waves 2-3, and PTSS at Wave 4. A traditional mediation model estimated the association between parental psychopathology and child PTSS via childhood adversities. A moderated mediation model was used to examine whether parenting practices moderated this mediation model. Results showed that the total effect of parental psychopathology at Wave 1 on PTSS at Wave 4 was fully mediated by childhood adversities at Waves 2-3 (direct effect b = 1.72, 95% CI = [-0.09, 3.83]; indirect effect b = 0.40, 95% CI = [0.15, 0.81]). In addition, the magnitude of this pathway varied by levels of parenting practices (i.e. parental monitoring and parent-child relationship quality). Specifically, the indirect effect of additional adversities in the psychopathology-PTSS link was stronger with higher levels of parental monitoring but weaker with higher parent-child relationship quality scores. Intergenerational continuity of psychopathology may be mitigated through the prevention of additional childhood adversities via upstream interventions, emphasizing providing parents with mental health needs with parenting tools. Family-based interventions focused on providing families with the tools to improve parent-child relationships may reduce the negative impact of childhood adversities on mental health across the life course.

COVID-19 lockdown, genetic ADHD susceptibility, and mental health in 10- year-old children

Previous studies report that the COVID-19 lockdown had an impact on the mental health of the pediatric population. In this study, we harness the deep neuropsychiatric phenotyping of the population-based COPSAC2010 (n = 700) cohort at age 10 to study the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health outcomes with focus on the role of the genetic vulnerability to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), in the form of polygenic risk scores (PRS). A total of 593 children were examined between 2019 and 2021, resulting in two groups of different children, those evaluated before the lockdown (n = 230) and those evaluated after (n = 363). Children assessed after the lockdown presented higher odds of being diagnosed with ADHD and had significantly higher scores in most neuropsychiatric scales, particularly in subscales pertaining to behavior and attention problems. We observed a significant interaction between the lockdown and ADHD PRS on several neuropsychiatric dimensions, with a large post-lockdown increase in children with a high PRS, while there was little to no pre-post difference in children with low PRS. These results indicate mental health consequences of the lockdown in children and suggest that genetically susceptible individuals are more affected by such stressors in childhood.

Preventing mental health problems in children after high conflict parental separation/divorce study: An optimization randomized controlled trial protocol

Parental divorce is a childhood stressor that affects approximately 1.1 million children in the U.S. annually. The children at greatest risk for deleterious mental health consequences are those exposed to high interparental conflict (IPC) following the separation/divorce. Research shows that children's emotional security and coping efficacy mediate the impact of IPC on their mental health. Interventions targeting their adaptive coping in response to IPC events may bolster their emotional security and coping efficacy. However, existing coping interventions have not been tested with children exposed to high post-separation/divorce IPC, nor has any study assessed the effects of individual intervention components on children's coping with IPC and their mental health. This intensive longitudinal intervention study examines the mechanisms through which coping intervention components impact children's responses to interactions in interparental relationships. A 23 factorial experiment will assess whether, and to what extent, three candidate intervention components demonstrate main and interactive effects on children's coping and mental health. Children aged 9–12 (target N = 144) will be randomly assigned to one of eight combinations of three components with two levels each: (1) reappraisal (present vs. absent), (2) distraction (present vs. absent), (3) relaxation (present vs. absent). The primary outcomes are child-report emotional security and coping efficacy at one-month post-intervention. Secondary outcomes include internalizing and externalizing problems at the three-month follow-up. Based on data from this optimization phase RCT, intervention components will be selected to comprise a multi-component intervention and assessed for effectiveness in a subsequent evaluation phase RCT.

Analyzing Chinese parents' and teachers' perception of play, children's emotional needs and therapy: implications for seeking help.

Before going through play therapy with children, parents' consent is usually needed. Thus, Parents' perception of play therapy can be a very important variable that influences the extent to which children are exposed to play therapy. Previous research has demonstrated the significant influence of social-cultural factors on people's perceptions of play therapy. This may in turn influence parents' decision about whether their children will participate in play therapy. This study explores the factors that influence Chinese parents' decisions on their children's engagement in play therapy from a social-cultural perspective. This small-scale research includes the following: a questionnaire with 16 parents; three one-to-one semi-structured interviews with three parents; and one focus group with 3 teachers. The results showed that Chinese parents' perceptions of therapy are mostly negative, which may reduce the desire of parents to let their children become involved with play therapy. The children's academic stress and the parents' economic pressures indicate a barrier for families to commit time and money to play therapy. Parents' confidence in their ability to recognize children's emotions, their lack of knowledge about play therapy, and the process of obtaining help from mental health services for children could be another barriers preventing engagement with play therapy. Even though the research is conducted with a very limited sample size and the results cannot represent the wider population, this research provides some insights into this issue that can be explored in detail in future research, to re-evaluate the results and form a more concrete theory within a wider population in China.

Depressed, stressed, and inflamed: C-reactive protein linked with depression symptoms in midlife women with both childhood and current life stress.

To determine whether the relationship between inflammatory factors and clinically significant depression symptoms is moderated by high exposure to adverse childhood experiences and current life stressors in a longitudinal community cohort of midlife women. Methods: Participants from the Penn Ovarian Ageing Study community cohort (age at baseline: M=45.3 [SD=3.8]) were included in analyses if they had a blood sample measuring basal inflammatory markers during at least one visit where depression symptom severity and current stressful life events were also assessed (N=142, average number of visits per participant=1.75 [SD=0.92]). Approximately annually over the course of 16years, participants self-reported depression symptom severity using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CESD) Scale, provided menstrual diaries to determine menopause stage, and contributed blood samples. Residual blood samples were assayed for interleukin (IL)-6, IL 1-beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Early life stress was quantified using the Adverse Childhood Experiences questionnaire (low [0-1 experience(s)] versus high [≥ 2 experiences]). Current stressful life events were assessed using a structured interview (low [0-1 events] vs. high [≥ 2 events]). Generalised estimating equation models were used to model associations with the outcome of interest-clinically significant depression symptoms (CESD ≥16)-and risk factors: inflammatory marker levels (log transformed), adverse childhood experiences group, and current life stressors group. Covariates included menopause stage, age at study baseline, body mass index, race, and smoking status. We found a significant three-way interaction between log hsCRP levels, adverse childhood experiences group, and current life stressors group on likelihood of experiencing clinically significant depression symptoms (OR: 4.33; 95% CI: 1.22, 15.46; p=0.024) after adjusting for covariates. Solely for women with high adverse childhood experiences and with high current life stressors, higher hsCRP was associated with higher odds of having clinically significant depression symptoms (OR: 1.46; 95% CI 1.07, 1.98; p=0.016). This three-way interaction was not significant for IL-6, IL-1β, or TNF-α. For women in midlife with exposure to high adverse childhood experiences and multiple current life stressors, elevated levels of CRP were uniquely associated with clinically significant depression symptoms. Early life adversity and current life stressors represent identifiable individual risk factors whose negative impact may be curtailed with inventions to target inflammation in midlife women.

Physical Activity and Chronic Stress in Early Life: Findings From the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort.

The association of physical activity through early childhood on children's chronic stress still is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to test the association of physical activity through early childhood (1-4y) with chronic stress, measured by hair cortisol at age 4. Longitudinal study including children from the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort. Cortisol at age 4 was measured using a hair sample, which provided cortisol concentration from the past months. Physical activity was measured using accelerometers at 1, 2, and 4years. Linear regression models were used to assess the association between physical activity and chronic stress. Trajectory models were also applied to examine chronic stress in relation to physical activity patterns throughout early childhood. Children with valid physical activity and hair cortisol data were included in the analyses (N = 1475). Three groups of physical activity trajectories between 1 and 4years were identified: low, medium, and high. No association between physical activity at 1, 2, and 4years and chronic stress at age 4 was observed. However, children in the "high" physical activity trajectory presented low cortisol concentration; the magnitude of the regression coefficient was slightly larger in girls (β = -0.125; 95% confidence interval, -0.326 to 0.074) than boys (β = -0.051; 95% confidence interval, -0.196 to 0.09). There was no clear association between physical activity and chronic stress in early childhood. Trajectories models suggest that higher activity throughout early childhood may positively impact chronic stress; however, more studies are needed to confirm that hypothesis.

Markers of Neuroontogenesis in the Stress-Hyporesponsive Period: Comparison of Laboratory Rodents and Humans

Nowadays there is a number of neuropsychiatric diseases that are considered to be associated with early life stress. Various models are used on laboratory rodents to elucidate the mechanisms of the pathogenesis of psychopathologies that cannot be studied in humans. For successful translation of data, it is necessary to compare the processes of neuroontogenesis at the moment of exposure and subsequent periods. There are many comparative studies concerning the development of neurons and neuronal networks, as well as changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In recent years, it has been reliably shown that glial cells are an important participant in both brain development and its response to stress. The opinion that it is microglia and astrocytes that represent the most promising targets for therapeutic intervention in stress-related diseases is supported. However, there are still no comparative analytical studies covering both stress-realizing systems and neuronal and glial markers of development. This review fills this gap. Here we provide a new perspective for considering the problems of modeling childhood stress and translating the data obtained. The presented analysis, on the one hand, supplements the existing understanding of the correspondence between the stages of brain development in laboratory rodents and humans, and, on the other hand, marks points of growth and raises new questions for researchers of stress in early ontogenesis.