Association of family stress with natural killer cell activity and the frequency of illnesses in children.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE:
To examine prospective associations between chronic stress in the parent-child and family systems and subsequent rates of illnesses and the activity of natural killer (NK) cells in children.

DESIGN:
Prospective cohort study.

SETTING:
The Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, Rochester, NY, from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2003.

PARTICIPANTS:
One hundred sixty-nine socioeconomically and racially diverse children (aged 5-10 years) and their parents. Parents completed measures of their psychiatric symptoms and stress in the family every 6 months. Children's blood samples were obtained for NK cytotoxicity assays every 6 months.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Parent-reported total child illnesses and febrile illnesses and results of NK cell cytotoxicity assays. We estimated adjusted illness rate ratios and adjusted mean differences in NK activity.

RESULTS:
Elevated parental psychiatric symptoms occurring with family stressors were associated with more total illnesses (rate ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.22) and febrile illnesses (rate ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.13-1.64) in children. Natural killer cell function was enhanced in children whose parents reported more chronic stress (estimate, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.05-0.26). Natural killer cell function was not associated with short-term changes in stress. Stress-illness relationships were not associated with stress-related alterations in NK cell function.

CONCLUSIONS:
Chronic family stress was associated with increased illnesses in children. Unlike older adults, children living with elevated chronic stress had enhanced rather than decreased NK cytotoxicity, suggesting chronic stress may have different effects on the developing immune system. Impaired parental functioning may be a mechanism linking family stress with adverse effects on children's health.

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Author information

Author/s: Wyman, Peter A (PA); Moynihan, Jan (J); Eberly, Shirley (S); Cox, Christopher (C); Cross, Wendi (W); Jin, Xia (X); Caserta, Mary T (MT);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.

Grants: 5M01 RR 00044 (Agency:NCRR NIH HHS) ; R01 HD 38938 (Agency:NICHD NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

Journal: Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Mar; vol 161 (issue 3) : pp 228-34

Dates: Created 2007/03/06; Completed 2007/03/29; Revised 2007/12/03;

PMID: 17339503, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Epidemiology
Female
Humans

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