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Updated: Oct 10, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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[Effect of Psychosocial Factors on Growth]

Bettina C Gohlke1, Markus Bettendorf2, Gerhard Binder3

  • 1Pädiatrische Endokrinologie, Universitätskinderklinik, Endokrinologie Bonn, Germany, Bonn, Deutschland.

Klinische Padiatrie
|December 13, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Psychosocial factors significantly impact child growth, potentially causing growth hormone deficiency and short stature. Addressing these issues through environmental changes and support can reverse some effects, highlighting their importance in diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Child growth is influenced by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, nutritional, and psychosocial factors.
  • The psychosocial environment plays a critical role in overall child development and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the significance of various psychosocial factors on child growth.
  • To understand the impact of psychosocial influences on growth patterns and endocrine function.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of findings from a working meeting of pediatric endocrinologists.
  • Evaluation of existing research on psychosocial factors and their effects on growth.

Main Results:

  • Psychosocial deprivation is linked to growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and short stature, which can be reversible with supportive interventions.
  • Children in conflict zones or experiencing migration face risks of underweight and growth disturbances, with potential for improvement but often residual short stature.
  • Prenatal exposure to substances like alcohol or opiates correlates with lower birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA) outcomes.
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) treatment with stimulants may cause a temporary growth slowdown but typically results in normal adult height.

Conclusions:

  • Psychosocial causes are crucial considerations in the differential diagnosis of idiopathic short stature in children.
  • Children from conflict regions or with prenatal drug exposure face an elevated risk of growth disturbances, necessitating targeted monitoring and intervention.
Abstract

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