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Violence exposure, a chronic psychosocial stressor, and childhood lung function

Shakira Franco Suglia1, Louise Ryan, Francine Laden

  • 1Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Landmark 415W, 401 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215, USA. sfranco@hsph.harvard.edu

Psychosomatic Medicine
|December 26, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Childhood exposure to interparental conflict and community violence negatively impacts lung function. Verbal aggression and community violence were linked to reduced lung capacity in children, independent of other factors.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Health
  • Pediatric Health
  • Psychosocial Stressors

Background:

  • Chronic psychosocial stressors, such as violence, can affect child development and physiology.
  • Understanding the impact of violence on children's respiratory health is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between exposure to community violence and interparental conflict and lung function in urban children.
  • To explore potential gender differences in the association between violence exposure and lung function.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective birth cohort study of 313 urban children aged 6-7 years was conducted.
  • Mothers reported on children's lifetime exposure to community violence (ETV) and interparental conflict (Conflict Tactics Scale - CTS).
  • Lung function was assessed using spirometry, measuring forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC).

Main Results:

  • Girls exposed to high levels of verbal aggression (CTS) showed significantly reduced FEV1 and FVC.
  • Boys exposed to high levels of community violence (ETV) showed reduced FEV1 and FVC, though not statistically significant.
  • Interparental conflict and community violence were associated with decreased lung function, independent of socioeconomic status, smoke exposure, birthweight, and medical history.

Conclusions:

  • Interparental verbal aggression and community violence are linked to diminished lung function in children.
  • Observed gender differences in response to violence exposure warrant further investigation.
  • Findings highlight the importance of addressing violence exposure to protect children's respiratory health.
Abstract

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