Did the grandmother’s exposure to environmental stress during
pregnancy affect the birth body size of her grandchildren? The
Polish evidence

J 2024

Did the grandmother’s exposure to environmental stress during pregnancy affect the birth body size of her grandchildren? The Polish evidence

LICZBIŃSKA, Grażyna and Miroslav KRÁLÍK

Basic information

Original name

Did the grandmother’s exposure to environmental stress during pregnancy affect the birth body size of her grandchildren? The Polish evidence

Name (in English)

Did the grandmother’s exposure to environmental stress during pregnancy affect the birth body size of her grandchildren? The Polish evidence

Authors

LICZBIŃSKA, Grażyna (616 Poland, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Miroslav KRÁLÍK (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

History of the Family, Abingdon, Routledge Journals, Taylor & Francis, 2024, 1081-602X

Other information

Language

Czech

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10700 1.7 Other natural sciences

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

Stránky vydavatele.

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.000 in 2022

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1081602X.2023.2290027

UT WoS

001116395800001

Keywords (in Czech)

mezigenerační přenos stresu; velikost těla při narození; pohlavní dimorfismus; epigenetika; environmentální stres

Keywords in English

intergenerational transmission of stress; birth body size; sexual dimorphism; epigenetics; environmental stress

Abstract

ORIG EN

V originále

This study aimed to examine whether the exposure of grandmothers (G1s) pregnant with their daughters (G2s) to the harsh conditions of the First World War and the Great Depression influenced the perinatal outcomes of their grandchildren (G3s). We use the data on full-term live births in 1951–1953. The following cohorts are selected: grandmothers (G1s), mothers (G2s), and grandchildren (G3s: males and females). Birth body size (weight, length, and birth body mass index) of G3s born to G2s were compared considering G1s’ period of pregnancy: pre-WWI, WWI, post-WWI, and the Great Depression. We use ART ANOVA to assess statistical differences in birth weight, length, and BMI without and with controlling for cofactors, such as: G2s’ age at delivery, and G3’s gestational age, and birth order. The grandmother’s pregnancy during the harsh conditions of WW I and the Great Depression resulted in the blurring of dimorphic differences in the generation of grandchildren in terms of their birth body size, i.e. weight, length, and BMI. The results demonstrate the potential impact of harsh conditions experienced by grandmothers on the perinatal outcomes of their grandchildren. We do not specify the mechanisms of stress transmission to subsequent generations but assume these are likely to stem from epigenetic mechanisms and/or the G2 mothers’ biological status.

In English

This study aimed to examine whether the exposure of grandmothers (G1s) pregnant with their daughters (G2s) to the harsh conditions of the First World War and the Great Depression influenced the perinatal outcomes of their grandchildren (G3s). We use the data on full-term live births in 1951–1953. The following cohorts are selected: grandmothers (G1s), mothers (G2s), and grandchildren (G3s: males and females). Birth body size (weight, length, and birth body mass index) of G3s born to G2s were compared considering G1s’ period of pregnancy: pre-WWI, WWI, post-WWI, and the Great Depression. We use ART ANOVA to assess statistical differences in birth weight, length, and BMI without and with controlling for cofactors, such as: G2s’ age at delivery, and G3’s gestational age, and birth order. The grandmother’s pregnancy during the harsh conditions of WW I and the Great Depression resulted in the blurring of dimorphic differences in the generation of grandchildren in terms of their birth body size, i.e. weight, length, and BMI. The results demonstrate the potential impact of harsh conditions experienced by grandmothers on the perinatal outcomes of their grandchildren. We do not specify the mechanisms of stress transmission to subsequent generations but assume these are likely to stem from epigenetic mechanisms and/or the G2 mothers’ biological status.

Detailed Information on Publication Record