Citation

Yonas MA, Lange NE, Celedon JC. Curr. Opin. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2012; 12(2): 202-210.

Affiliation

aDepartments of Family Medicine and Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh bDivision of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania cChanning Laboratory, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/ACI.0b013e32835090c9

PMID

22266773

PMCID

PMC3320729

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The objective of this review is to provide an overview and discussion of recent epidemiologic and mechanistic studies of stress in relation to asthma incidence and morbidity. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent findings suggest that stress, whether at the individual (i.e. epigenetics, perceived stress), family (i.e. prenatal maternal stress, early-life exposure, or intimate partner violence) or community (i.e. neighborhood violence; neighborhood disadvantage) level, influences asthma and asthma morbidity. Key recent findings regarding how psychosocial stress may influence asthma through Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, prenatal and postnatal maternal/caregiver stress, and community violence and deprivation are highlighted. SUMMARY: New research illustrates the need to further examine, characterize, and address the influence of social and environmental factors (i.e. psychological stress) on asthma. Further, research and innovative methodologies are needed to characterize the relationship and pathways associated with stress at multiple levels to more fully understand and address asthma morbidity, and to design potential interventions, especially to address persistent disparities in asthma in ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged communities.

Language: en