Childhood Psychosocial Stress Increases Risk for Early Coronary Atherosclerosis

An unfavorable psychosocial environment at ages 12 to 18 years was associated with coronary artery calcifications 28 years later.

Adverse psychosocial factors in adulthood have been associated with the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) — a biological marker for subclinical atherosclerosis. Can this observation be applied to children?

In a longitudinal study in Finland, psychosocial factors were assessed in 311 youth (aged 12–18 years), who represented a convenience sample of participants with available follow-up CAC measurements in adulthood. Participants' parents completed a questionnaire designed to determine the presence of favorable psychosocial factors in six areas: socioeconomic status, family emotional environment, parental health behaviors, stressful events, child's self-regulatory behaviors, and parent's concern about the child's social adjustmen…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics