The developmental origins of stress reactivity: an intergenerational life-course perspective

Stress reactivity is a core aspect of temperament, reflecting a biologically based, socially shaped, tendency to distress that may have intergenerational origins. One commonly held view is that stress exposures in utero and postpartum may prime offspring to anticipate harsh future conditions, triggering a biologically programmed predictive adaptive sensitivity to threat. However, emerging evidence suggests that stress reactivity in offspring is also associated with both maternal and paternal trauma and mental health difficulties that occur well before offspring conception. This positions the developmental origins of stress reactivity within a longer-term intergenerational life-course perspective. We propose there is significant potential for advancing knowledge in this area using multidisciplinary approaches including new methods and data sources.