Stressful home linked to increased risk of lung problems in kids

A stressful family environment can influence the adverse effects of traffic pollution on respiratory health of children for the worse, according to a recent study by the University of Southern California published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Emerging evidence indicates that psychosocial stress enhances the effect of traffic exposure on the development of asthma, so researchers surveyed the parents of nearly 1,400 children, age 10 to 12, who were also assessed for any respiratory health and lung problems.

Pollution levels were measured both near the home and the school, and parents indicated their level of chronic stress by completing responses to a Perceived Stress Scale.

Even after adjusting for socio-economic factors and restricting analysis to non-asthmatic children, researchers concluded that a high stress home environment increased susceptibility to lung function effects of air pollution both at home and at school.