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Early adversity and mental health: linking extremely low birth weight, emotion regulation, and internalizing

Jordana Waxman, Ryan J Van Lieshout, Louis A Schmidt1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1 Canada. waxmanja@mcmaster.ca.

Current Pediatric Reviews
|August 5, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early adversity, like extremely low birth weight (ELBW), can heighten the risk of psychopathology. Neuroendocrine system and emotion regulation may mediate or moderate this link to internalizing disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroendocrinology
  • Psychopathology

Background:

  • Early life adversity is a known risk factor for later psychopathology.
  • Extremely low birth weight (ELBW) serves as a model for studying early life stressors.
  • Prenatal and early postnatal stressors impact emotional, biological, and behavioral development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review evidence for an early programming hypothesis of psychopathology.
  • To identify neuroendocrine markers associated with early adversity.
  • To explore how these markers mediate/moderate the link between ELBW and internalizing disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on early adversity, ELBW, psychopathology, and neuroendocrine function.
  • Examination of the role of the neuroendocrine system and emotion regulation.
  • Analysis of potential mediating and moderating effects.

Main Results:

  • Early adversity, particularly ELBW, is associated with altered neuroendocrine function and emotion regulation.
  • Dysregulation in these systems is linked to increased risk for internalizing disorders.
  • Neuroendocrine markers may play a role in mediating or moderating the effects of ELBW on psychopathology.

Conclusions:

  • The neuroendocrine system and emotion regulation are critical pathways linking early adversity (ELBW) to later psychopathology.
  • Understanding these mechanisms can inform early interventions for at-risk individuals.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate specific neuroendocrine markers and their precise roles.

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