Stress worsens lung function in children

Children who live in stress-filled homes experience more air pollution-related lung damage than those in less stressful environments.

Recent studies indicate that psychosocial stress enhances the effect of traffic exposure on the development of asthma. The researchers thought that chronic stress would also modify the effect of traffic exposure on lung function. They looked at the effects of traffic-related pollution and parental stress on 1,399 American children, aged 10 to 12 years.

There were no significant links noted between parental stress alone and lung function levels in the children. But as exposure to traffic pollution increased, lung function decreased among children in high-stress homes. This did not occur among children in low-stress homes. 

Certain factors associated with low socioeconomic levels were also linked with high stress, such as a low annual income and education levels of parents, as well as lack of health insurance and air conditioning at home.

The findings could be due to the fact that like air pollution, stress has been linked to both inflammation and oxidative damage at the cellular level. The findings suggest that by regulating traffic-related pollution levels around residential areas and schools, the adverse effect of traffic-related pollution on lung function among vulnerable children could be reduced.