Guide to Navigating this Research Archive
Here you will find research articles published by IDHP researchers that are related to our primary scientific foci: the interconnected mental health of children and their caregivers, the intergenerational impact of stressful experiences on mental and physical health, and interventions and other buffers that support family wellness.
In the right sidebar, you can search this archive by research topic, as well as by research study (you can read about each study on the Current Projects page). Each archive entry has a simple summary, the full scientific abstract, and a link to the full article. Most of the articles in this research archive are available open access (i.e., you can access it without a subscription). If you are trying to access an article and aren't able to see the full version, please email us at idhp@ucsf.edu, and we would be happy to assist.
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October 20, 2021
CANDLE Study
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
Protective factors
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at how a mother's childhood trauma and stress during pregnancy affects her child's behavior at age 1. The study found that multiple types of maternal stress were associated with socioemotional-behavioral problems in children at age one. Importantly, findings also showed that maternal knowledge about child development can help protect against the negative effects of stress. This suggests that screening and early intervention for parents could help promote positive behavioral health in children.
September 15, 2021
Child physical health
Stress during pregnancy
TIDES Study
This study looked at how stressful life events (SLEs) experienced by mothers during pregnancy are associated with atopic dermatitis in their children. The study followed 426 mother-child pairs from pregnancy to middle childhood and found that there was no significant association between SLEs and atopic dermatitis in children. The study suggests that larger studies with more diverse experiences of SLEs may provide more information on this area of research.
July 20, 2021
Biomarkers
Childhood adversity
CTRP-Health Study
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at how adversity during childhood and pregnancy affects the immune system in a sample of women who have experienced interpersonal violence. Researchers found that higher levels of adversity during childhood and pregnancy, but not total lifetime adversity, were associated with a type of immune system imbalance, which could lead to increased risk for chronic diseases. These findings suggest that experiencing adversity during childhood and pregnancy can have long-term impacts on health.
October 17, 2020
Biomarkers
CANDLE Study
Childhood adversity
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at the effects of childhood trauma on pregnant people's placental Corticotrophin-Releasing Hormone (pCRH) levels, which can impact the health of both the mother and child. Researchers found that exposure to childhood abuse or violence predicted higher levels of pCRH later in pregnancy, but stressors during adulthood nor pregnancy did not affect pCRH. The study highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing childhood trauma in pregnant people to promote better health outcomes for them and their children.
August 19, 2020
Child physical health
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at how stress during pregnancy affects the health of infants in their first year of life. The researchers found that when mothers experienced more stress during pregnancy, their babies were more likely to get sick. This means that it is important to try and reduce stress during pregnancy in order to keep both the mother and the baby healthy.
May 14, 2020
Child physical health
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study
Stress during pregnancy
This study looked at how stress during pregnancy can affect a baby's weight gain. Authors found that moms who experienced more stressful events during pregnancy were more likely to have babies who gained weight too quickly in the first six months of life. These findings suggest that supporting pregnant people around stress may help prevent rapid weight gain in babies.
October 1, 2019
Intervention effects
MAMAS/SEED Study
Maternal mental health
Stress during pregnancy
This study tested the effectiveness of Mindful Moms Training, a wellness group for pregnancy women, on perceived stress, eating behaviors, and gestational weight gain. The group intervention led to significant reductions in perceived stress and depressive symptoms, increased physical activity, and showed promise for preventing glucose intolerance. However, the study found that the majority of women gained excessive weight during pregnancy, regardless of the intervention.
June 1, 2018
Intervention effects
MAMAS/SEED Study
Maternal mental health
Stress during pregnancy
This study documents the development of a mindfulness-based intervention for pregnant women, Mindful Moms Training, which aimed to reduce excessive stress and weight gain during pregnancy. The intervention included group sessions where pregnant women learned mindfulness strategies for stress and non-hunger-based eating behaviors. The study found that the intervention was feasible and effective, with women reporting improvements in mindfulness, acceptance, and emotion regulation, which were correlated with reductions in stress, depression, and overeating.
November 22, 2017
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
MAMAS/SEED Study
SEED Study
Stress during pregnancy
This study found that higher levels of stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy were linked to lower levels of self-regulation and activity in their infants. Additionally, experiencing more stressful life events during pregnancy was linked to greater stress reactivity and weaker recovery in infants, but only if mothers reported high levels of perceived stress. These findings suggest that both objective and subjective measures of maternal stress can have a unique impact on infants' stress reactivity and regulation.