The Long-Lasting Effects of Childhood Stress

Stress is an inevitable part of every stage of our lives, and childhood is no exception. Stress is not all bad. In fact, one might argue that stress is a crucial part of growing up and developing an independent and resilient personality. When it comes in manageable doses, it helps us become better human beings. However, excessive stress can be harmful, very harmful. In this article, we will discuss different kinds of stress and how stress can cause permanent problems in our minds.

What Exactly Is Stress?

Stress is the body’s response that usually arises when a person is adapting to something new. For a child, this new thing, called a stressor, could be joining a sports team, starting school, or experiencing parents divorcing. When one gets adapted to the new situation or the stressor is removed, the stress level returns to baseline. But what if the situation is so out of hand that the child cannot adapt? What if the stressor doesn’t go away? That’s what experts call “toxic stress.”

What Are the Different Types of Stress?

Experts distinguish among three types of stress responses: positive, tolerable, and toxic. Importantly, these describe how the body responds to stress, not the severity of the event itself.

• Positive Stress is a part of healthy childhood development. A child might experience a mild increase in heart rate and an increase in stress hormone levels such as cortisol or adrenaline. The stressor will go away, or the child will adapt to the stressor in a short time. Examples of positive stress could be going to the doctor's office for a shot of vaccine or entering school for the first time.
• Tolerable Stress is a more severe stress reaction that occurs in response to longer-lasting stressors and problems, such as the loss of a grandparent. It can be hard and devastating, but the child will get used to it eventually. Having supportive parents will help the child and prevent the body from entering a toxic stress response.
• Toxic Stress occurs when the stressor doesn’t go away for a long time and there is no support. Stressors such as abuse, chronic neglect, parental substance use disorder or mental illness, or severe poverty are more likely to cause a toxic stress response.

According to studies, when a child has loving and supportive caregivers, the toxic response to stress is buffered. Love and care help release a hormone called oxytocin, which has significant stress-reducing effects. In fact, oxytocin attaches to the same brain structures as cortisol, but oxytocin is more potent because it can protect children at the cellular level.

Stressors can be emotional, physical, or environmental, all of which can equally impact the child’s stress response. Parental separation or divorce, poverty, malnutrition, neglect, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, bullying, and the loss of a parent are among the most severe stressors.

How Does Stress Change Our Brain?

As mentioned before, stress is our body’s response, and prolonged stress can lead to significant changes in brain structure and function. The prefrontal cortex, responsible for executive functions such as decision-making and impulse control, can be particularly affected. The hippocampus, crucial for memory formation, and the amygdala, involved in emotional regulation, are also vulnerable to the effects of stress.

Many studies have shown that children who experience high levels of stress early in life may have reduced brain volume in these areas, leading to persistent cognitive and emotional challenges.

It has recently been shown that major stressors that lead to a toxic stress response, such as childhood deprivation, can even affect brain functions such as working memory and executive function. A 2019 study conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital demonstrated that children who experience deprivation early in life have impaired memory and executive function between the ages of 8 and 16 compared to peers who were placed in quality foster homes.

Mark Wade, PhD, of the Division of Developmental Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and the paper’s first author, said in an interview: “This study shows us that the effects of deprivation and neglect in early childhood continue well into the second decade of life, providing strong evidence that early experience has a long-term impact on cognitive functioning in adolescence — a very important period of social and biological development.”

The new analysis focused on cognitive functioning, particularly memory and executive functioning. “Executive functioning includes several cognitive processes that help individuals be more goal-oriented and solve problems,” explains Wade. “It is important in academic achievement and social functioning in childhood and is also related to long-term occupational attainment, income, and other aspects of psychosocial well-being.”

This study found that among institutionalized children, even those eventually placed in foster care, early impairments in attention, short-term visual memory, spatial planning, and problem-solving (all components of executive functioning) persisted through adolescence. Also, the gap in spatial working memory between ever-institutionalized children and those raised in the community widened by adolescence.

There is also a strong link between early childhood stress and the development of mental health disorders later in life. Children who experience high levels of stress are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. These mental health challenges can further exacerbate cognitive impairments and hinder social relationships.

Polarized Parenting and the Impact of Narcissistic Parents

Polarized parenting, where parents have conflicting or extreme parenting styles, can also contribute to toxic stress in children. For instance, when one parent is excessively controlling while the other is overly permissive, it creates an unstable environment for the child, leading to chronic stress. Similarly, narcissistic parents, who may be excessively self-centered and emotionally manipulative, can cause significant psychological harm to their children.

The long-term effects of being raised by a narcissistic parent can include chronic stress, low self-esteem, and difficulties in forming healthy relationships. This type of stress is particularly damaging because it often involves emotional abuse, which can leave deep scars on the child's psyche and brain development. Children of narcissistic parents may struggle with identity formation, emotional regulation, and trust, leading to long-lasting effects that persist into adulthood.

Can the Adverse Effects of Stress Be Prevented?

When it comes to preventing the adverse effects of major childhood stressors, early intervention is crucial. Programs designed to provide enriched educational environments, psychological support, and family counseling can significantly improve outcomes for children who have experienced major stressors. Mental health professionals can help choose the best program for each condition. These programs often focus on:

• Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps children develop coping strategies and resilience by addressing negative thought patterns and behaviors. It can be particularly effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): PCIT focuses on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship and changing parent-child interaction patterns. This therapy can help reduce behavioral problems and improve emotional regulation in children.
• Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT): TF-CBT is specifically designed for children who have experienced trauma. It combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with trauma-sensitive interventions to help children process and overcome traumatic experiences.
• Educational Support: Providing access to quality education is essential for children who have experienced early stress. Schools can play a pivotal role by:
  1. Implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs: SEL programs teach children skills such as emotional regulation, empathy, and problem-solving. These skills are crucial for academic success and overall well-being.
  2. Offering Individualized Education Plans (IEPs): For children with significant cognitive or emotional challenges, IEPs can provide tailored support and accommodations to help them succeed academically.
  3. Creating Safe and Supportive School Environments: Schools can foster a sense of safety and belonging by promoting positive relationships among students and staff, implementing anti-bullying policies, and providing mental health resources.

Authored by:

Dr. Alireza Sarmadi
Family Physician

Rose Morsh
RECE, Parenting Practitioner
Family & Child-Inclusive Mediator
Collaborative Law Family & Child Expert
International Parent Coordinator & Family Mediator
Child Voice Practitioner

References:

1. https://psychcentral.com/stress/how-stress-affects-children-how-to-manage-it#stressors
2. https://neurosciencenews.com/memory-child-deprivation-10553/
3. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/06/neglect
4. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/10/3451
5. https://sdlab.fas.harvard.edu/files/sdlab/files/1-s2.0-s1364661314002022-main.pdf
6. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/129/1/e232/31628/The-Lifelong-Effects-of-Early-Childhood-Adversity?autologincheck=redirected
7. https://jneurodevdisorders.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s11689-020-09337-y