Family Influences | Schreier Lab

Associations between adverse childhood family environments and blood pressure vary by gender

Background It is unclear how adverse childhood family environments differentially impact adult health outcomes among men and women. This brief communication reports on the independent and joint effects of adverse childhood family environments and sex on indicators of health in adulthood. Methods and Results 213 18-55-year olds reported on their childhood family environment (Risky Families Questionnaire (RFQ); Family Environment Scale (FEStotal)) and their current perceived stress and depressive and anxious affect. Resting systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were taken during a laboratory visit, and total cortisol output was measured in saliva samples collected at home. Exposure to childhood adversity did not vary by sex. Women had lower SBP, DBP, and total cortisol output, but higher HR, than men (ps < .05). Sex moderated the association between childhood family environment and SBP (RFQ: B = -.316; SE = .120; p = .009; FEStotal: B = -.274; SE = .117; p = .021) and DBP (FEStotal: B = -.193; SE = .094; p = .041), such that exposure to greater childhood adversity was linked to lower BP in women only. Results were largely unchanged after adjusting for concurrent perceived stress and depressive and anxious affect. Separate effects of individual FES subscales are also discussed. Conclusions Contrary to expectations, exposure to adverse childhood family environments was associated with lower resting BP among women, perhaps indicative of basal cardiovascular hypoactivation, whereas early adversity was not linked to BP among men.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C., Jones, E. J., Nayman, S., & Smyth, J. M. (2019). Associations between adverse childhood family environments and blood pressure vary by gender. PlosONE, 14(12), e0225544.

Is sexual abuse a unique predictor of sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy, and motherhood in adolescence?

This study tested sexual abuse as a unique predictor of subsequent adolescent sexual behaviors, pregnancy, and motherhood when in company with other types of maltreatment (physical abuse, neglect) and alternative behavioral, family, and contextual risk factors in a prospective, longitudinal study of maltreated (n = 275) and comparison (n = 239) nulliparous females aged 14-19 years old assessed annually through 19 years old. Hierarchical regression was used to disentangle risk factors that account for the associations of maltreatment type on risky sexual behaviors at 19 years old, adolescent pregnancy, and adolescent motherhood. Findings indicate that sexual and physical abuse remain significant predictors of risky sexual behaviors, and that sexual abuse remains a significant predictor of adolescent motherhood when alternative explanatory variables are controlled.

CITATION: Noll, J. G., Guastaferro, K., Beal, S. J., Schreier, H. M. C., Barnes, J., Reader, J.M., & Font, S. A. (2019). Is sexual abuse a unique predictor of sexual risk behaviors, pregnancy, and motherhood in adolescence? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 29(4), 967-983.

Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
09
Mar 20

Prospective relations between prenatal maternal cortisol and child health

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate prospective, longitudinal associations between maternal prenatal cortisol response to an interpersonal stressor and child health for the subsequent 3 years. Methods One hundred twenty-three women expecting their first child provided salivary cortisol samples between 12 and 32 weeks of gestation (M (SD) = 22.4 (4.9) weeks) before and after a videotaped couple conflict discussion with their partner. Mothers reported on overall child health and several indicators of child illness (sick doctor visits, fevers, ear, and respiratory infections) when children were 6 months (n = 114), 1 (n = 116), and 3 (n = 105) years old. Associations between maternal prenatal cortisol reactivity and recovery and later child health at each of the three time points were analyzed using longitudinal regression models. Results Greater cortisol reactivity in response to the couple conflict discussion was associated with maternal self-report of better overall child health (p = .016, 95% CI = 0.06-1.30, Cohen’s f = 0.045) across the study period. Greater cortisol reactivity was also associated with lower incidence rate ratios for maternal reports of sick doctor visits (incidence rate ratio 95% CI = 0.25-0.83, p = .006), fevers (95% CI = 0.25-0.73, p = .002), ear infections (95% CI = 0.25-0.58, p < .001), and respiratory infections (95% CI = 0.08-1.11, p = .073). Cortisol recovery was unrelated to study outcomes (all p’s > 0.05). Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms moderated the association between cortisol reactivity and overall child health (p = .034, 95% CI = 0.07-1.87 for interaction term) but no other health outcomes (p’s > 0.05). Among women with lower depressive symptoms, cortisol reactivity was not associated with overall child health; among women with higher levels of depressive symptoms, greater cortisol reactivity was associated with better overall child health. Conclusions This study provides longitudinal evidence that greater maternal cortisol reactivity to a salient interpersonal stressor during pregnancy is associated with fewer child health problems and better maternal report of overall child health during infancy and into early childhood.

CITATION: Roettger, M. E., Schreier, H. M. C., Feinberg, M. E., & Jones, D. E. (2019). Prospective relations between prenatal maternal cortisol and child health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(6), 557-565.

Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
03
Oct 18

Aspects of the parent–child relationship and parent metabolic outcomes

Much is known about the effect of parent–child relationships on child health; less is known about how parent–child relationships influence parent health. To assess the association between aspects of the parent–child relationship and parent metabolic outcomes, and whether these associations are moderated by parent gender. Five metabolic outcomes (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, total cholesterol and glycated hemoglobin) were assessed among 261 parents (45.83 ± 5.50 years) of an adolescent child (14.57 ± 1.072 years). Parents completed questionnaires assessing their child’s hassles and the quality of their days with their child. Parents’ perceptions of their child’s hassles were associated with parent heart rate (B = 2.954, SE = 1.267, p = 0.021) and cholesterol (B = 0.028, SE = 0.011, p = 0.010), such that greater perceived child hassles were associated with higher heart rate and cholesterol levels, on average. These associations were not moderated by parent gender (all ps [ 0.30). Parent report of their day with their child was not associ- ated with parent metabolic outcomes (all ps [ 0.20). Par- ent gender moderated the association between parent report of their day with their child and parent systolic blood pressure (B = 13.861, SE = 6.200, p = 0.026), such that less positive reports were associated with higher blood pressure readings among fathers, but not mothers. This study suggests that parent metabolic health may in part be influenced by aspects of the parent–child relationship.

CITATION: Jones, E.J., Chen, E., Levine, C.S., Lam, P.H., Liu, V.Y., & Schreier, H.M.C. (2019). Aspects of the parent-child relationship and parent metabolic outcomes. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 42(2), 204-216.

Adolescents / Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
03
Oct 18

Chronic Family Stress and Adolescent Health: The Moderating Role of Emotion Regulation

Objective The aim of the study was to assess whether the association between chronic family stress and physiological measures is moderated by emotion regulation strategies in an adolescent sample. Methods Chronic family stress was assessed via a semi-structured interview and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and suppression) via questionnaire among 261 adolescents (14.57 (1.07) years). Several metabolic (waist-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure) and inflammatory markers (basal and stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to bacterial challenge) as well as glucocorticoid sensitivity were assessed. Results There were no main effects of chronic family stress, cognitive reappraisal, or suppression on physiological measures (all p’s > .10). Emotion regulation moderated the association between chronic family stress and physiological measures. As chronic family stress increased, adolescents higher in cognitive reappraisal had smaller waist-hip ratios (B = −.003, SE = .001, p = .015) and lower systolic blood pressure (B = −.303, SE = .143, p = .035), although no moderation was found with respect to inflammatory markers and glucocorticoid sensitivity (all p’s > .30). In addition, as chronic family stress increased, adolescents higher in suppression showed evidence of higher stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production (B = .046, SE = .020, p = .021) and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity (B = .051, SE = .021, p = .015), although basal inflammation and metabolic measures were not moderated by suppression (all p’s > .50). Conclusions This study suggests that the types of emotion regulation strategies used by adolescents may affect the extent to which chronic family stress affects important metabolic and immune processes.

CITATION: Jones, E. J., Lam, P.H., Hoffer, L.C., Chen, E., & Schreier, H.M.C. (2018). Chronic stress and adolescent health: the moderating role of emotion regulation. Psychosomatic Medicine, 80(8), 764-773.

Family Influences / Inflammation / Publications — No Comments
27
Aug 16

Social role conflict predicts stimulated cytokine production among men, not women

Objective: To assess whether perceived role conflict is associated with stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine production and glucocorticoid sensitivity, and whether these associations are moderated by sex. Methods: 153 healthy adults (aged 45.8±5.5years, 78% female) listed their 3 main social roles and indicated the amount of role conflict they perceived between each pair of social roles. Subsequently, participants underwent blood draws and leukocyte response to microbial challenge and glucocorticoid sensitivity were assessed by incubating whole blood with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of hydrocortisone. Stimulated levels of Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) were measured. Results: Multiple regression analyses controlling for sociodemographics revealed significant sex×role conflict interactions for LPS-stimulated production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα (all interaction ps<0.05), and a marginal interaction on LPS-stimulated IL-8 production (interaction p<0.10). Greater perceived role conflict was associated with greater pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to microbial stimulation only among men, not women. There also were significant sex×role conflict interactions with respect to glucocorticoid sensitivity for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα production (all interaction ps<0.05) and a marginal interaction for IL-8 (interaction p<0.10). Greater perceived role conflict was unrelated to glucocorticoid sensitivity among women, but associated with less sensitivity to glucocorticoid signaling among men. Conclusions: Perceived social role conflict, indicating greater perceived demand across multiple social roles, may take a greater toll on the regulation of inflammatory processes among men compared to women.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C, Hoffer, L. C. & Chen, E. (2016). Social role conflict predicts stimulated cytokine production among men, not women. Brain, Behavior, & Immunity.

Adolescents / Chronic Illnesses / Family Influences / Inflammation / Publications — No Comments
15
Sep 15

Chronic traffic-related air pollution and stress interact to predict biologic and clinical outcomes in asthma

Background: Previous research has documented effects of both physical and social environmental exposures on childhood asthma. However, few studies have considered how these two environments might interact to affect asthma. Objective: This study aimed to test interactions between chronic exposure to traffic-related air pollution and chronic family stress in predicting biologic and clinical outcomes in children with asthma. Method: Children with asthma (n = 73, 9-18 years of age) were interviewed about life stress, and asthma-relevant inflammatory markers [cytokine production, immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil counts] were measured. Parents reported on children’s symptoms. Children completed daily diaries of symptoms and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measures at baseline and 6 months later. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution was assessed using a land use regression model for nitrogen dioxide concentrations. Results: NO(2) by stress interactions were found for interleukin-5 (beta for interaction term = -0.31, p = 0.02), IgE (interaction beta = -0.29, p = 0.02), and eosinophil counts (interaction beta = -0.24, p = 0.04). These interactions showed that higher chronic stress was associated with heightened inflammatory profiles as pollution levels decreased. Longitudinally, NO(2) by stress interactions emerged for daily diary symptoms (interaction beta = -0.28, p = 0.02), parent-reported symptoms (interaction beta = -0.25, p = 0.07), and PEFR (interaction beta = 0.30, p = 0.03). These interactions indicated that higher chronic stress was associated with increases over time in symptoms and decreases over time in PEFR as pollution levels decreased. Conclusions: The physical and social environments interacted in predicting both biologic and clinical outcomes in children with asthma, suggesting that when pollution exposure is more modest, vulnerability to asthma exacerbations may be heightened in children with higher chronic stress.

CITATION: Chen, E., Schreier, H. M. C., Strunk, R. C., & Brauer, M. (2008). Chronic traffic-related air pollution and stress interact to predict biologic and clinical outcomes in asthma. Environmental Health Perspectives, 116(7), 970-975.

Adolescents / Chronic Illnesses / Family Influences / Inflammation / Publications — No Comments
15
Sep 15

Longitudinal relationships between family routines and biological profiles among youth with asthma

Objective: To investigate whether longitudinal trajectories of inflammatory markers of asthma can be predicted by levels of family routines in youth with asthma. Design: Family routines were assessed through parent questionnaires and peripheral blood samples obtained from youth every 6 months throughout the 18-month study period. Longitudinal relationships were evaluated using hierarchical linear modeling. Main Outcome Measures: Mitogen-stimulated production of cytokines implicated in asthma, specifically IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13. Results: Youth with more family routines in their home environment showed decreases in IL-13 (but not IL-4 or IL-5) over the course of the study period. In turn, within-person analyses indicated that at times when stimulated production of IL-13 was high, asthma symptoms were also high, pointing to the clinical relevance of changes in IL-13 over time. A variety of child and parent psychosocial as well as child behavioral characteristics could not explain these effects. However, medication use eliminated the relationship between family routines and stimulated production of IL-13. Conclusion: Our study suggests that family routines predict asthma outcomes at the biological level, possibly through influencing medication use. Considering daily family behaviors when treating asthma may help improve both biological and clinical profiles in youth with asthma.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C. & Chen, E. (2010). Longitudinal relationships between family routines and biological profiles among youth with asthma. Health Psychology, 29(1), 82-90.

Adolescents / Family Influences / Inflammation / Publications / Socioeconomic Status — 1 Comment
09
Sep 15

Family chaos and adolescent inflammatory profiles: the moderating role of socioeconomic status

Objective: To test whether family chaos influences adolescents’ inflammatory profiles and whether adolescents from low socio- economic status (SES) environments are at higher risk for experiencing adverse inflammatory profiles from living in chaotic family environments. Methods: A total of 244 families with an adolescent aged 13 to 16 years participated. Parents completed measures of family SES and family chaos. Both systemic inflammation and stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production in response to bacterial challenge were assessed in adolescents. Results: Our results suggest that SES moderates the detrimental effect of family chaos on systemic inflammation and interleukin-6 (B = -0.010, standard error [SE] = 0.004, p = .026), but not C-reactive protein (B = 0.009, SE = 0.006, p = .11), and on stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production (B = -0.098, SE = 0.044, p = .026) in adolescents, such that a chaotic family environment is positively associated with greater systemic inflammation and greater stimulated proinflammatory cytokine production in adolescents as family SES declines. Conclusions: These findings indicate that living in chaotic family environments places youth who may be vulnerable based on socioeconomic factors at a potentially higher risk for inflammation-related diseases. Key words: inflammation, family chaos, adolescents, socioeconomic status.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C., Roy, L. B., Frimer, L., & Chen, E. (2014). Family chaos and adolescent inflammatory profiles: the moderating role of socioeconomic status. Psychosomatic Medicine, 76(6), 460-467.

Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
09
Sep 15

Maternal sensitivity and infant autonomic and endocrine stress response

Background: Early environmental exposures may help shape the development of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, influencing vulnerability for health problems across the lifespan. Little is known about the role of maternal sensitivity in influencing the development of the ANS in early life. Aims: To examine associations among maternal sensitivity and infant behavioral distress and ANS and HPA axis reactivity to the Repeated Still-Face Paradigm (SFP-R), a dyadic stress task. Study Design: Observational repeated measures study. Subjects: Thirty-five urban, sociodemographically diverse mothers and their 6-month-old infants. Outcome Measures: Changes in infant affective distress, heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and T-wave amplitude (TWA) across episodes of the SFP-R were assessed. A measure of cortisol output (area under the curve) in the hour following cessation of the SFP-R was also obtained. Results: Greater maternal insensitivity was associated with greater infant sympathetic activation (TWA) during periods of stress and tended to be associated with greater cortisol output following the SFP-R. There was also evidence for greater affective distress and less parasympathetic activation (RSA) during the SFP-R among infants of predominantly insensitive mothers. Conslusions: Caregiving quality in early life may influence the responsiveness of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS as well as the HPA axis. Consideration of the ANS and HPA axis systems together provides a fuller representation of adaptive versus maladaptive stress responses. The findings highlight the importance of supporting high quality caregiving in the early years of life, which is likely to promote later health.

CITATION: Bosquet Enlow, M., King, L., Schreier, H. M. C., Howard, J. M., Rosenfield, D., Ritz, T., & Wright, R. J. (2014). Maternal sensitivity and infant autonomic and endocrine stress response. Early Human Development, 90(7), 377-385.

Want to be an RA?

Publication Keywords