Cumulative stressor exposure and cognitive functioning in late childhood: The role of inflammation.
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| Title: | Cumulative stressor exposure and cognitive functioning in late childhood: The role of inflammation. |
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| Authors: | Polgar‐Wiseman, Izabella (AUTHOR), Francesconi, Marta (AUTHOR), Flouri, Eirini (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Nov2025, Vol. 43 Issue 4, p843-859. 17p. |
| Subjects: | Life change events, Research funding, Executive function, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Social perception, Descriptive statistics, Multivariate analysis, Longitudinal method, Attention, Statistics, Communication, Memory, Inflammation, Factor analysis, Data analysis software, Adverse childhood experiences, Regression analysis, Biomarkers, Interleukins, C-reactive protein |
| Abstract: | This study examined whether the experience of stressors since infancy is related to executive function and social communication in late childhood via inflammation, using data from 4457 participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). It explored whether the effect of stressful life events (from 6 months to 8.5 years) on working memory, response inhibition, selective attention, attentional control, communication problems and social cognition (at ages 10–11 years) was mediated by inflammation (interleukin 6 and C‐reactive protein) at age 9 years. While the study did not find evidence for mediation, it showed that, in the general child population, inflammation was related to executive function impairments, and stressful life events were related to social communication difficulties. These associations were small but robust to confounder adjustment. If causal, they suggest that reducing inflammation could improve executive functioning, the prerequisite to any purposeful and goal‐directed action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of British Journal of Developmental Psychology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | This study examined whether the experience of stressors since infancy is related to executive function and social communication in late childhood via inflammation, using data from 4457 participants of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). It explored whether the effect of stressful life events (from 6 months to 8.5 years) on working memory, response inhibition, selective attention, attentional control, communication problems and social cognition (at ages 10–11 years) was mediated by inflammation (interleukin 6 and C‐reactive protein) at age 9 years. While the study did not find evidence for mediation, it showed that, in the general child population, inflammation was related to executive function impairments, and stressful life events were related to social communication difficulties. These associations were small but robust to confounder adjustment. If causal, they suggest that reducing inflammation could improve executive functioning, the prerequisite to any purposeful and goal‐directed action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 0261510X |
| DOI: | 10.1111/bjdp.12557 |
