A study by researchers at the University of Cincinnati in the United States says babies of women who experience stress during pregnancy are at risk of developing diseases such as asthma, obesity, autism, among others.
The research, published in the journal Biological Psychiatry, notes psychosocial factors creating stress. They include lack of social support, loneliness, marriage status, or bereavement, all of which they say may mutate a baby’s mitochondrial DNA and could be a precursor to a host of diseases.
The study found that women experiencing increased psychosocial stress — that range from sexual assault, domestic violence, or serious injury to incarceration, physical or mental illness, and family hardship — over their lifetime exhibited a higher number of placental mitochondrial mutations.
The strongest associations according to the study, were observed among black women.
The study further revealed widespread poverty, mass unemployment especially of women, poor working conditions, family and household responsibilities, strain in relationship with partners, and other complications of pregnancy as recognized stressors, which need to be avoided.
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