Childhood Stress Leads to Adult Disease
More and more, we’re learning that children’s lifestyles, habits, and experiences can affect their health as grown-ups. First was the study that found lower levels of cardiovascular disease in adults who’d had exposure to some common bacteria as kids. Now, researchers at King’s College of London found that childhood stress can lead to adult disease.
The study followed more than 1,000 kids through the first ten years of life and compared rates of socioeconomic disadvantage, maltreatment, and social isolation (all causes of major stress for a person of any age) with rates of depression, elevated inflammation, and metabolic risk factors when participants reached thirty-two years old. The outcome: The more adverse situations a child experienced, the greater his risk for developing disease in this thirties.
What to do? Help your kid manage negative feelings and stress. Invite her to share concerns about school, friends, or anything else that might be on her mind–and figure out positive ways to deal. Want more ideas? Click here.
-Marygrace, KIWI staff writer
2 comments
I suppose it’s logical to think that long-term stress could lead to health problems at any age. Stress can affect our immune system and of course that in turn affects our health.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can help to keep stress levels in check but this too can be hard for children with difficult family and environmental backgrounds.
So what is the answer for them?
I totally agree with you!
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