Stress in Infancy and Early Childhood: Effects on Development

Developmental changes during infancy and early childhood guide the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and experiences during this time may program stress-responsive systems, influencing mental and physical health into adulthood. A growing body of research focuses on social, cognitive, environmental, and genetic moderators of the stress system, as well as how the HPA axis mediates physiological adaptations to stress in childhood. The effects of early stressors, including poverty, maltreatment, and neglect, are being examined to inform interventions that target children with these life histories.