BACKGROUND Children from families of low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to be exposed to upsetting situations and stressors. Such exposures have, in turn, been linked to inflammation in some studies. In this study we explore if low SES is related to inflammation in children via such stressful life events. METHODS Data on 4,525 children of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a general population birth cohort, were used to explore associations between SES at ages 0-3 years, upsetting life events at ages 3-9 years and inflammatory markers [interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] at age 9 years. Confounders included body mass index, gender, financial problems, and upsetting life events at ages 0-3 years. RESULTS Using Structural Equation Modelling, we found that early socioeconomic disadvantage predicted higher levels of IL-6 (β=0.034, 95% CI=0.063, 0.005) even after adjusting for confounders. This association was partially mediated by upsetting life events (β=0.003, 95% CI=0.011, 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In the general child population, low SES is associated with increased exposure to stressful life events, in turn associated with later inflammation. These findings highlight the role of stressors associated with poverty and disadvantage in the development of inflammation among children in the general population.

中文翻译：

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令人不安的生活事件能否解释低社会经济地位与儿童期全身炎症之间的关系？纵向研究的结果

背景 来自低社会经济地位 (SES) 家庭的儿童更有可能面临令人不安的情况和压力源。反过来，在一些研究中，这种暴露与炎症有关。在这项研究中，我们探讨了低 SES 是否与通过这种压力性生活事件引起的儿童炎症有关。方法 雅芳父母和儿童纵向研究（一般人群出生队列）的 4,525 名儿童的数据用于探索 0-3 岁 SES、3-9 岁扰乱生活事件和炎症标志物 [白细胞介素 6 (IL-6) 和 C 反应蛋白 (CRP)] 在 9 岁时。混杂因素包括体重指数、性别、财务问题和 0-3 岁时令人不安的生活事件。结果使用结构方程建模，我们发现，即使在调整混杂因素后，早期的社会经济劣势也预示着更高水平的 IL-6 (β=0.034, 95% CI=0.063, 0.005)。这种关联部分是由令人不安的生活事件介导的（β=0.003, 95% CI=0.011, 0.001）。结论 在一般儿童群体中，低 SES 与增加的压力性生活事件暴露相关，进而与后期炎症相关。这些发现强调了与贫困和不利条件相关的压力源在普通人群儿童炎症发展中的作用。低 SES 与增加暴露于压力性生活事件相关，进而与后期炎症相关。这些发现强调了与贫困和不利条件相关的压力源在普通人群儿童炎症发展中的作用。低 SES 与增加暴露于压力性生活事件相关，进而与后期炎症相关。这些发现强调了与贫困和不利条件相关的压力源在普通人群儿童炎症发展中的作用。