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Review
. 2012 Apr;12(2):202-10.
doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e32835090c9.

Psychosocial stress and asthma morbidity

Michael A Yonas  1 , Nancy E Lange, Juan C Celedón
Affiliations
Review

Psychosocial stress and asthma morbidity

Michael A Yonas et al. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The objective of this review is to provide an overview and discussion of recent epidemiologic and mechanistic studies of stress in relation to asthma incidence and morbidity.

Recent findings: Recent findings suggest that stress, whether at the individual (i.e. epigenetics, perceived stress), family (i.e. prenatal maternal stress, early-life exposure, or intimate partner violence) or community (i.e. neighborhood violence; neighborhood disadvantage) level, influences asthma and asthma morbidity. Key recent findings regarding how psychosocial stress may influence asthma through Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, prenatal and postnatal maternal/caregiver stress, and community violence and deprivation are highlighted.

Summary: New research illustrates the need to further examine, characterize, and address the influence of social and environmental factors (i.e. psychological stress) on asthma. Further, research and innovative methodologies are needed to characterize the relationship and pathways associated with stress at multiple levels to more fully understand and address asthma morbidity, and to design potential interventions, especially to address persistent disparities in asthma in ethnic minorities and economically disadvantaged communities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to report.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Ecological framework of the relation between psychosocial stressors and asthma morbidity.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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