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Childhood influences on health

from Psychology, health and illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2014

By
Julie M. Turner-Cobb
Edited by
Susan Ayers ,
Andrew Baum ,
Chris McManus ,
Stanton Newman ,
Kenneth Wallston ,
John Weinman  and
Robert West
Julie M. Turner-Cobb
Affiliation:
University of Bath
Susan Ayers
Affiliation:
University of Sussex
Andrew Baum
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh
Chris McManus
Affiliation:
St Mary's Hospital Medical School
Stanton Newman
Affiliation:
University College and Middlesex School of Medicine
Kenneth Wallston
Affiliation:
Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
John Weinman
Affiliation:
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's
Robert West
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

Overview

Early social experience appears to be one of the most important psychological factors influencing health outcome in children. Social experience in childhood includes interactions with care givers (e.g. parents and childcare providers) and with peers (e.g. friends made at childcare or school). Of particular note in the classical psychology literature is the significance of parental attachment, especially that of the maternal bond. When applied directly to health, research initially focused on the psychopathological or mental health implications of maternal attachment or parental abuse. Indeed such developmental work has yielded a number of important findings. More recent research applying the influence on physical health of stressful experiences during childhood, has revealed some potential physiological indicators involved in this relationship, primarily that of the hormone cortisol. This chapter deals with the themes and debates surrounding this emerging literature, applying the social experiences in childhood to the health arena throughout childhood and across the lifespan. It is acknowledged that whilst there may be more broader issues influencing health during childhood, the stress response focus given here outlines a possible psychophysiological mediating mechanism through which such factors might influence health.

The relevance of cortisol to health

The basic premise behind the research discussed here is that early life experiences and individual differences can activate the stress response systems of the body to influence health outcomes across the lifespan.

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Chapter
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Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine , pp. 33 - 38
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2007

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