Research

IDHP Research Summaries

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 [email protected], and we would be happy to assist. 

 

 

May 30, 2023
Child mental & behavioral health
Child physical health
Childhood adversity
ECHO-wide Study

Intergenerational transmission of the effects of maternal exposure to childhood maltreatment in the USA: A retrospective cohort study

This study examined the connection between mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment and the physical and mental health problems in their children. The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from 69 cohorts (4,337 families) across the USA. They found that children of mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were more likely to have internalizing problems, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and asthma. Female offspring of maltreated mothers also had a higher prevalence of obesity. The study highlights the importance of addressing the intergenerational transmission of adversity and implementing policies to break this cycle.
June 16, 2022
ECHO-wide Study
Maternal mental health

Trajectories of depressive symptoms among mothers of preterm and full-term infants in a national sample

The study examined how depression symptoms changed in mothers of premature and full-term infants from birth to age 5. Researchers found that 1 in 5 mothers of premature infants had depression symptoms, which was twice the rate of mothers of full-term infants. Depression symptoms increased and became more severe as children got older for mothers of premature infants. These findings suggest that many mothers may experience depression symptoms beyond the initial postpartum period, and mothers of premature infants may need additional support.
April 29, 2022
Biomarkers
ECHO-wide Study
Stress during pregnancy

Associations between social, biologic, and behavioral factors and biomarkers of oxidative stress during pregnancy: Findings from four ECHO cohorts

This study looked at how lower socioeconomic status and stress affect pregnancy outcomes. The researchers studied biological, behavioral, and social factors that might contribute to oxidative stress, which is an important yet understudied way that these factors can harm a pregnancy. The results showed that pregnant people who smoked or had less than a high school education had higher levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, which may contribute to negative health outcomes for both the pregnancy and the child.
June 19, 2020
Child mental & behavioral health
Child physical health
ECHO-wide Study

Family environment, neurodevelopmental risk, and the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) initiative: Looking back and moving forward

This review article discusses how various aspects of the family environment, such as socioeconomic status, parenting behaviors, and parental mental health, can affect children's neurodevelopmental outcomes, particularly their mental health. The article also introduces the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, a new initiative by the National Institutes of Health that aims to advance our understanding of the impact of family environment on children's mental health. The article concludes by highlighting some unresolved questions and controversies in this field, and how ECHO can help address them.