Childhood Stress linked to development and Severity of Atopic Dermatitis: Study

A new study published in the recent issue of The Journal of Investigative Dermatology found the connection between childhood stress and the development and severity of atopic dermatitis (AD).

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children tracked the impact of various stressful life events on 13,972 children between the ages of 1 and 8.5 years. This revealed that even common childhood stressors may play a significant role in worsening AD symptoms.

The study found that for every standard deviation increase in exposure to stressful events, there was a 4% higher likelihood of concurrent AD activity (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07). This association became even more pronounced for moderate-to-severe cases, where the odds rose to 13% (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.23).

The cumulative impact of stressful events over childhood further elevated the risk, with an 11% increased likelihood of AD symptoms (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.16). This finding illuminates how ongoing exposure to stress during formative years can compound health challenges.

Unlike previous assumptions that severe traumatic events would have a dominant effect, the study highlighted that relatively common life changes like starting a new school or welcoming a new sibling were more influential. These events were often perceived as highly impactful by the children themselves which contributed to increased AD activity and severity. Also, more severe events, like parental separation or abuse, played a smaller role in the overall findings.

This study emphasized the importance of this distinction, suggesting that anticipatory guidance for families could be a crucial step in managing childhood AD. The data for the study were collected using a standardized life events scale, which assessed various stressors reported by parents over time. This data was then matched with repeated measures of AD prevalence and severity. The key confounders such as socioeconomic factors and family medical history were adjusted for in the analysis, ensuring robust findings.

The study highlights the intricate link between mind and body during early childhood development and further calls for increased awareness of the seemingly small events that may have significant health impacts. It provides a basis for further research into tailored interventions that can help reduce AD severity by supporting mental well-being of children through everyday life transitions.

Reference:

Abuabara, K., Kidd, S. A., Ye, M., Tully, J., Tomaszewki, N., Bhutani, T., Chen, S., Mhatre, P. G., Ramirez, F., & Langan, S. M. (2025). The impact of childhood stressful life events on atopic dermatitis disease activity and severity. The Journal of Investigative Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2025.01.014