ECHO Study Suggests Childhood Maltreatment of Mothers Linked to Asthma, ADHD, and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Their Children

Authors: Claudia Buss, Nora K. Moog

Who sponsored this study?

This research was supported by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health.

What were the study results?

Results from this study suggest that mothers’ maltreatment experience as children may influence their own children’s future health. Children of mothers who were neglected or abused during childhood were more likely to have diagnoses of asthma, ADHD, and ASD. These children were also more likely to demonstrate symptoms and behaviors linked to depression (i.e., internalizing behaviors). Additionally, girls whose mothers experienced maltreatment during childhood were more likely to have obesity. Children with mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were also more likely to develop several of these health outcomes at once. Furthermore, exposure to several different forms of maternal childhood maltreatment was associated with highest risk increases for most offspring health outcomes suggesting the more severe the maternal childhood experiences were, the higher the risk for adverse health outcomes in her child.

Footnote: Results reported here are for a single study. Other or future studies may provide new information or different results. You should not make changes to your health without first consulting your healthcare professional.

What was the study's impact?

This study highlights the impact of maternal childhood maltreatment experiences as a major determinant of health across generations. While not all children of mothers who experienced abuse or neglect during childhood develop health problems, those who do are at higher risk for developing more than one condition. Results from this study suggest that screening and identifying these children early on, can allow the opportunity to direct targeted interventions to interrupt the intergenerational impact of adversity.

Why was the study needed?

Childhood maltreatment increases the risk for adverse health outcomes, and this risk can be transmitted from one generation to the next. Previous studies have investigated single health outcomes in children of mothers that were exposed to childhood abuse or neglect. However, health outcomes can often be connected to one another and affected by the same factors. This study investigated six health outcomes simultaneously and investigated whether a mother’s own exposure to maltreatment affects a child’s risk for experiencing more than one of these health outcomes.

Who was involved?

This study included over 4,000 mothers and their children from 21 ECHO cohorts. About 44% of mothers who participated in the study reported experiencing some form of abuse or neglect during their own childhood.

What happened during the study?

Mothers self-reported on their childhood experiences, and researchers used this information to assign mothers to one of two groups: 1) exposed to childhood maltreatment and 2) not exposed to childhood maltreatment. The researchers compared the risk for physical and mental conditions, including asthma, internalizing behaviors (e.g., social withdrawal, trouble sleeping, symptoms of anxiety or depression), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obesity, between the children in the two groups. They also examined whether multiple health outcomes co-occur in the same child.

What happens next?

Follow-up studies will investigate the pathways between maternal childhood maltreatment experiences and child health outcomes. Other studies may also investigate if other forms of negative childhood experiences are linked to different consequences of childhood maltreatment in the next generation.

Where can I learn more?

Access the full journal article, titled “Intergenerational transmission of the consequences of maternal exposure to childhood maltreatment – a United States nationwide study of multiple cohorts in the ECHO program” in The Lancet Public Health.

The content is the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

Published February 23, 2023

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