Intergenerational Impacts of Maternal Stress on Early Childhood Atopy in Black Americans: Risk and Protective Factors Open Access

Abstract

Black children are disproportionately affected by atopic diseases (i.e., atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergies), with health disparities present in early life. Studies in White samples suggest that maternal stress confers risk for offspring atopy, yet little is known about these relationships in Black populations. This study seeks to (1) examine the relationship between self-reported and physiological indicators of maternal stress and offspring atopy and (2) explore warm and responsive caregiving as a potential protective factor in Black Americans. A sample of 179 Black mother-child dyads of varying socioeconomic status participated in a prospective longitudinal study. Mothers completed self-reports of childhood trauma, prenatal stress, postnatal stress, and physician diagnosis of offspring atopy; provided blood samples to assess physiological responses to chronic stress exposure; and participated in a behavioral task with their infant. Maternal self-reports of childhood trauma, prenatal stress, and postnatal stress were not associated with offspring diagnosis of atopy by 2-3 years of age. Mothers who produced a smaller inflammatory response during pregnancy were more likely to have an offspring with atopy by 2-3 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. Failure to replicate previous findings suggests that the maternal stress-offspring atopy relationship is complex. Future studies must examine the unique stressors in Black Americans, as well as caregiving as a potential protective factor.

Table of Contents

Introduction……………………….............1

Methods…………………………………...5

           Participants and Procedures……….5

           Measures…………………………..6

           Data Analytic Plan……………….10

Results……………………………………11

Discussion………………………………..12

References………………………………..19

Tables…………………………………….26

 

List of Tables

Table 1. Demographic and Descriptive Characteristics

Table 2. Logistic Regression of Maternal Stress and Offspring Atopy at Ages 2-3

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement

• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Laney Graduate School
Department	Psychology
Subfield / Discipline	Clinical Psychology
Degree	M.A.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Psychobiology Psychology, Developmental
Keyword	allergies health disparities atopic dermatitis asthma atopic diseases maternal stress prenatal stress atopy
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Brennan, Patricia, Emory University Goodman, Sherryl, Emory University Fivush, Robyn, Emory University

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