Abstract
This study examined the relationship between maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy and children’s food preferences and diet in a population of low socioeconomic status.
Methods
Indices of exposure to stress were constructed based on retrospective self-reported experience of stressful events during pregnancy (e.g., death of close family member, relationship difficulties, legal issues, health issues, financial issues, or other potentially stressful event[s]). Data were collected for >200 mothers of a low socioeconomic status with a child age 2 to 12 y. Data on mothers’ body mass index, current exposure to stress, current diet, and diet during pregnancy were collected at the same time, as well as data on children’s food preferences and current diet as reported by the mothers. Indices of the healthiness of food preferences and diet were constructed and used as outcome variables.
Results
Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy significantly predicts children’s food and taste preferences, as well as their diet, in regression models controlling for maternal diet, current maternal stress, and demographic characteristics of both the child and mother. Higher average stress during pregnancy is linked with significantly less healthy food preferences and diet, as well as with weaker preferences for sour and bitter foods. This relationship is observed across different age groups.
Conclusions
Maternal exposure to stress during pregnancy could have long-term detrimental effects on dietary outcomes and thereby on health conditions related to diet. Prenatal care and preconception counseling could be critical to develop preventive strategies to improve public health.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 111423 |
| Journal | Nutrition |
| Volume | 93 |
| Early online date | 15 Jul 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2022 |
Funding
The authors thank EssexLab and the Università degli Studi di Firenze for allowing the use of their facilities. All phases of this study were supported by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (grant agreement no. 607310). Nicolai Vitt further gratefully acknowledges funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (award 1651922). The study was part of a larger study preregistered in the AEA RCT registry (trial ID AEARCTR-0003410) before data collection. Details can be found at https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/3410/history/35937 . The study was conducted with ethical approval of the European University Institute and the University of Edinburgh. Written informed consent was given by all participants. The authors thank EssexLab and the Università degli Studi di Firenze for allowing the use of their facilities. All phases of this study were supported by the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (grant agreement no. 607310). Nicolai Vitt further gratefully acknowledges funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (award 1651922). The study was part of a larger study preregistered in the AEA RCT registry (trial ID AEARCTR-0003410) before data collection. Details can be found at https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/3410/history/35937. The study was conducted with ethical approval of the European University Institute and the University of Edinburgh. Written informed consent was given by all participants.
