Family stress affects the children's immune system

(Depression in family) - Stress in the family can lead to the immune system of affected children, a research team has demonstrated this. Our immune system is responsible for protecting us from bacteria and viruses. Our bodies are also equipped to handle everyday stresses - stresses that last only for a short time.

On the other hand, a stressful and stressful situation or a prolonged stress increase may have a negative effect on the immune system . This type of prolonged stress may increase when a close family member dies or when adults are trapped in awkward, uncontrollable situations.

A team at the School of Health Sciences at Jönköping University and the Faculty of Health Sciences at Linköping University in Sweden showed that high family stress can lead to children's immune systems. affected. This study is published in the American Journal of Immunology.

This study has shown that children of high stress families have higher cortisol levels. Cortisol is a type of horrmone corticosteroid (corticosteroid is a steroid hormone - that is, a natural organic compound synthesized by endocrine glands in the body) produced by a part called Zona fasciculata on the adrenal cortex. (adrenal gland). This hormone is extremely important and is often referred to as 'stress hormone' . This shows that these children are also stressed.

The study also points to the fact that, high levels of stress negatively affect the immune system, which is not the same as the ability to endure when the body is exposed to high levels of stress. Instead, the immune system has responded to substances in the body that should have been these substances alone, which may involve an autoimmune reaction.

The study evaluated families with 5-year-old children (from the study called ABI S (All Children in Southeast Sweden) . The parents answered questions related to stress and difficulties. Potential towels can cause impacts on families, such as divorce or unemployment, the answers that lead researchers to identify a group of children may experience higher levels of stress in the family. of them, and a group of children grew up with normal stress levels.

The team at the School of Health Sciences in Jönköping will continue to study this content further to find out how high the stress level can affect the body. During this time, researchers will return to study youth groups between the ages of 18 and 22.

'These young people will tell about negative experiences in their daily lives and negative experiences in their childhood,' said Maria Faresjö, a professor at the School of Health Sciences and a human being. will lead the next study.