Intergenerational Impacts of Maternal Stress on Offspring Atopy in Black Americans: Risk and Protective Factors

• In Event: Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Topic - Health, Growth, Injury

Abstract

Introduction: Black children are disproportionately affected by atopic diseases, including allergies, asthma, and atopic dermatitis (Daya & Barnes, 2019). Health disparities are present within the first few years of life, suggesting that the origins of atopy and its associated disparities may be shaped by stressors during, and perhaps even prior to, gestation (Gern et al., 2020). Studies in White samples suggest that maternal stress during sensitive periods may influence a child’s developing immune system and thus confer risk for offspring atopy (Rosa et al., 2018). However, very little is known about these relationships in Black Americans, who are disproportionately affected by stress and atopy alike. The current study seeks to (1) examine the relationship between self-reported and physiological maternal stress and offspring atopy and (2) explore warm and responsive caregiving as a potential protective factor, in a sample of Black Americans.

Methods: A sample of 179 Black mother-child dyads from varying backgrounds of socioeconomic risk participated in a prospective longitudinal study. Mothers completed self-reports of childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Bernstein et al., 2003), prenatal and postnatal psychological stress (Perceived Stress Scale, Cohen, 1988; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Spielberger et al., 1983; Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Cox et al., 2003) provided blood samples to assess prenatal physiological stress (Tumor Necrosis Alpha response and dexamethasone suppression); and participated in a mother-infant interaction (Three-Bag Assessment, Brady et al., 2000) to assess maternal warmth and responsivity. When children were two-to-three years of age, mothers indicated whether a physician had diagnosed their child with allergies, asthma, and/or atopic dermatitis. Demographic and health factors assessed as potential covariates included offspring sex, maternal atopy, socioeconomic status, maternal age, maternal body mass index, prenatal tobacco exposure, mode of delivery, birthweight, and length of breastfeeding.

Results: Maternal self-reports of childhood trauma, prenatal psychological stress, and postnatal psychological stress were not associated with offspring atopy. Mothers who produced a smaller inflammatory response during pregnancy were more likely to have their offspring develop atopy by two-to-three years of age. Warm and responsive parenting demonstrated a protective effect; the positive association between maternal stress and offspring atopy was less apparent in cases of mother-child interactions characterized by high levels warm and responsive parenting.

Conclusions: Failure to replicate previous findings suggests that the maternal stress-offspring atopy relationship may not be the same across all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Future studies must examine the unique psychological and physiological stressors in Black Americans, ultimately working towards reducing critical health disparities in atopy morbidity and mortality. Warm and responsive caregiving emerged as a protective factor, suggesting a modifiable intervention target.

Authors

• Melissa Engel, Emory University
  Presenting Author

• Madeline Pike, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Madeleine Flora Cohen, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anne Dunlop, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth Corwin, Columbia University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Brad Pearce, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Patricia Brennan, Emory University
  Non-Presenting Author