The Positive and Negative Consequences of Stressors During Early Life

Overview

Journal Early Hum Dev

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Gynecology & Obstetrics
Pediatrics
Reproductive Medicine

Date 2015 Sep 20

PMID 26385447

Citations 31

Authors

Pat Monaghan

Mark F Haussmann

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We discuss the long-term effects of stress exposure in pre- and early postnal life. We present an evolutionary framework within which such effects can be viewed, and describe how the outcomes might vary with species life histories. We focus on stressors that induce increases in glucocorticoid hormones and discuss the advantages of an experimental approach. We describe a number of studies demonstrating how exposure to these hormones in early life can influence stress responsiveness and have substantial long-term, negative consequences for adult longevity. We also describe how early life exposure to mild levels of stressors can have beneficial effects on resilience to stress in later life, and discuss how the balance of costs and benefits is likely dependent on the nature of the adult environment.

Citing Articles

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