Effects of Pre- and Postnatal Early-Life Stress on Internalizing, Adiposity, and Their Comorbidity

Year: 2023

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Depression and obesity are 2 highly prevalent and often comorbid conditions. Exposure to early-life stress (ELS) has been associated with both depression and obesity in adulthood, as well as their preclinical manifestations during development. However, it remains unclear whether (1) associations differ depending on the timing of stress exposure (prenatal vs postnatal), and whether (2) ELS is a shared risk factor underlying the comorbidity between the 2 conditions. METHOD: Leveraging data from 2 large population-based birth cohorts (ALSPAC: n = 8,428 [52% male participants]; Generation R: n = 4,268 [48% male participants]), we constructed comprehensive cumulative measures of prenatal (in utero) and postnatal (from birth to 10 years) ELS. At age 13.5 years, we assessed the following: internalizing symptoms (using maternal reports); fat mass percentage (using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry); and their comorbidity, defined as the co-occurrence of high internalizing and high adiposity. RESULTS: Both prenatal (total effect [95% CI] = 0.20 [0.16; 0.22]) and postnatal stress (β [95%CI] = 0.22 [0.17; 0.25]) were associated with higher internalizing symptoms, with evidence of a more prominent role of postnatal stress. A weaker association (driven primarily by prenatal stress) was observed between stress and adiposity (prenatal: 0.07 [0.05; 0.09]; postnatal: 0.04 [0.01; 0.07]). Both prenatal (odds ratio [95%CI] = 1.70 [1.47; 1.97]) and postnatal (1.87 [1.61; 2.17]) stress were associated with an increased risk of developing comorbidity. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of timing and shared causal effects of ELS on psycho-cardiometabolic health in adolescence; however, future research is warranted to clarify how these associations may unfold over time. DIVERSITY & INCLUSION STATEMENT: We worked to ensure sex and gender balance in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure race, ethnic, and/or other types of diversity in the recruitment of human participants. We worked to ensure that the study questionnaires were prepared in an inclusive way. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented racial and/or ethnic groups in science. One or more of the authors of this paper self-identifies as a member of one or more historically underrepresented sexual and/or gender groups in science. We actively worked to promote sex and gender balance in our author group.

Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2023.05.034

Authors: Serena Defina, Tom Woofenden, Vilte Baltramonaityte, Carmine M. Pariante, Karim Lekadir, Vincent W.V. Jaddoe, Fadila Serdarevic, Henning Tiemeier, Esther Walton, Janine F. Felix, Charlotte A.M. Cecil

Institutions: Erasmus MC, University of Bath, King's College London, Universitat de Barcelona, Harvard University, Leiden University Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000

Awards: G1067152967, G133902920, G1990791044, AMBROSIAC - A Menu for Brain Responses Opposing Stress-Induced Alterations in Cognition, MICA: Immuno-psychiatry: a consortium to test the opportunity for immunotherapeutics in psychiatry, G2360703732, G2632041694, EU Patient- cEntric clinicAl tRial pLatform, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi-generation, longitudinal resource, G3348134642, Consortium of Neuroimmunology of Mood Disorders and Alzheimer's Disease., G3639234831, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC): A multi- generation, longitudinal resource focusing on life course health and well- being., G3909006727, G4250557856, G4342926802, The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children: An international resource for population genomics and lifecourse epidemiology. Core Programme Support 2011-2015 and Core programme support 2014-2019, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G5231023664, NIHR Senior Investigator Award, G5562631338, G5632776011, Persistent Fatigue Induced by Interferon-alpha: A New Immunological Model for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Scaling-up Health-Arts Programmes: Implementation and Effectiveness Research (SHAPER), G792825315

OpenAlex ID: W4384025716