TY - JOUR
T1 - Maternal stress during pregnancy and children's diet
T2 - Evidence from a population of low socioeconomic status
AU - Vitt, Nicolai
AU - Vecchi, Martina
AU - James, Jonathan
AU - Belot, Michèle
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/1
Y1 - 2022/1
N2 - Objectives: This study examined the relationship between maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy and children's food preferences and diet in a population of low socioeconomic status. Methods: Indices of exposure to stress were constructed based on retrospective self-reported experience of stressful events during pregnancy (e.g., death of close family member, relationship difficulties, legal issues, health issues, financial issues, or other potentially stressful event[s]). Data were collected for >200 mothers of a low socioeconomic status with a child age 2 to 12 y. Data on mothers’ body mass index, current exposure to stress, current diet, and diet during pregnancy were collected at the same time, as well as data on children's food preferences and current diet as reported by the mothers. Indices of the healthiness of food preferences and diet were constructed and used as outcome variables. Results: Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy significantly predicts children's food and taste preferences, as well as their diet, in regression models controlling for maternal diet, current maternal stress, and demographic characteristics of both the child and mother. Higher average stress during pregnancy is linked with significantly less healthy food preferences and diet, as well as with weaker preferences for sour and bitter foods. This relationship is observed across different age groups. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy could have long-term detrimental effects on dietary outcomes and thereby on health conditions related to diet. Prenatal care and preconception counseling could be critical to develop preventive strategies to improve public health.
AB - Objectives: This study examined the relationship between maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy and children's food preferences and diet in a population of low socioeconomic status. Methods: Indices of exposure to stress were constructed based on retrospective self-reported experience of stressful events during pregnancy (e.g., death of close family member, relationship difficulties, legal issues, health issues, financial issues, or other potentially stressful event[s]). Data were collected for >200 mothers of a low socioeconomic status with a child age 2 to 12 y. Data on mothers’ body mass index, current exposure to stress, current diet, and diet during pregnancy were collected at the same time, as well as data on children's food preferences and current diet as reported by the mothers. Indices of the healthiness of food preferences and diet were constructed and used as outcome variables. Results: Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy significantly predicts children's food and taste preferences, as well as their diet, in regression models controlling for maternal diet, current maternal stress, and demographic characteristics of both the child and mother. Higher average stress during pregnancy is linked with significantly less healthy food preferences and diet, as well as with weaker preferences for sour and bitter foods. This relationship is observed across different age groups. Conclusions: Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy could have long-term detrimental effects on dietary outcomes and thereby on health conditions related to diet. Prenatal care and preconception counseling could be critical to develop preventive strategies to improve public health.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111423
DO - 10.1016/j.nut.2021.111423
M3 - Article
C2 - 34479046
AN - SCOPUS:85114109690
SN - 0899-9007
VL - 93
JO - Nutrition
JF - Nutrition
M1 - 111423
ER -