Objective Black children are disproportionately affected by atopic diseases (i.e., atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergies), with health disparities present in early life. Studies in White samples suggest that maternal stress confers risk for offspring atopy, yet little is known about these relationships in Black populations. This study seeks to (a) examine the relationship between self-reported and physiological indicators of maternal stress and offspring atopy and (b) explore warm and responsive caregiving as a potential protective factor in Black Americans. Methods A sample of 179 Black mother–child dyads of varying socioeconomic status participated in a prospective longitudinal study. Mothers completed self-reports of childhood trauma, prenatal stress, postnatal stress, and physician diagnosis of offspring atopy; provided blood samples to assess physiological responses to chronic stress exposure; and participated in a behavioral task with their infant. Results Maternal self-reports of childhood trauma, prenatal stress, and postnatal stress were not associated with offspring diagnosis of atopy by 2–3 years of age. Mothers who produced a smaller inflammatory response during pregnancy were more likely to have an offspring with atopy by 2–3 years of age. Warm and responsive parenting demonstrated a protective effect; the positive association between maternal stress and offspring atopy was less apparent in cases of mother–child interactions characterized by high levels warm and responsive parenting. Conclusion Failure to replicate previous findings suggests that the maternal stress–offspring atopy relationship is complex. Future studies must examine the unique stressors in Black Americans, as well as caregiving as a potential protective factor.

中文翻译：

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母亲压力对美国黑人儿童早期特应性的代际影响

目的 黑人儿童受到特应性疾病（即特应性皮炎、过敏性鼻炎、哮喘和食物过敏）的影响不成比例，在生命早期存在健康差异。对白人样本的研究表明，母体压力会导致后代患过敏症，但对黑人人群中的这些关系知之甚少。本研究旨在 (a) 检查母亲压力的自我报告和生理指标与后代特应性之间的关系，以及 (b) 探索温暖和反应灵敏的护理作为美国黑人的潜在保护因素。方法 179 名不同社会经济地位的黑人母子样本参与了一项前瞻性纵向研究。母亲完成了童年创伤、产前压力、产后压力和后代特应性的医生诊断的自我报告；提供血液样本以评估对慢性压力暴露的生理反应；并与他们的婴儿一起参与了一项行为任务。结果 母亲对童年创伤、产前压力和产后压力的自我报告与后代 2-3 岁时诊断为特应性无关。在怀孕期间产生较小炎症反应的母亲更有可能在 2-3 岁时生出患有特应性的后代。温暖和反应灵敏的养育方式表现出保护作用；在以高水平温暖和反应灵敏的育儿为特征的母子互动中，母体压力与后代特应性之间的正相关关系不太明显。结论 未能复制以前的研究结果表明母体压力-后代特应性关系是复杂的。