Childhood abuse is associated with increased hair cortisol levels among urban pregnant women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity is known to be altered following events such as childhood abuse. However, despite potential adverse consequences for the offspring of women who have experienced abuse, very little is known about altered HPA axis activity during pregnancy.

Methods

During pregnancy, 180 women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds reported on their exposure to emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 11, and general post-traumatic stress symptoms (ie, not limited to childhood years or abuse experiences). Around delivery, they provided hair samples for the assessment of cortisol levels during pregnancy. Hair cortisol was assessed for each pregnancy trimester. The effect of childhood abuse on hair cortisol was assesse

SUBMITTER: Schreier HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4671271 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature