Intergenerational Health: Maternal Stress and Future Generations

Breaking the Cycle: How Maternal Stress Impacts Future Generations

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Soraya Malik in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"A groundbreaking study explores the intergenerational transmission of health disparities among Turkish-origin residents in Germany, revealing the critical role of maternal stress and stress biology during pregnancy."


Migration can introduce a unique set of challenges, especially concerning health. Turkish-origin immigrants in Germany, for example, often face higher levels of social disadvantage compared to the general population. This disparity isn't just a matter of circumstance; it can have lasting effects on health across generations.

While research has begun to uncover how social disadvantage becomes biologically embedded, influencing long-term health, less is known about how these effects are passed down from one generation to the next. Understanding this intergenerational transmission is crucial for addressing health inequities.

A new study aims to shed light on this complex issue by investigating the impact of maternal migration status and socioeconomic factors on the biological processes that connect a mother's stress levels to her developing baby. By focusing on the maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) axis, researchers hope to understand how these factors influence infant health outcomes.

Unpacking the Study: Maternal Stress and Intergenerational Health

Intergenerational Health: Maternal Stress and Future Generations

Researchers are conducting a longitudinal cohort study involving 450 mother-child pairs. This study meticulously tracks various factors throughout pregnancy and the first year of the child's life. The study includes Turkish-origin women in Germany, German women in Germany, and Turkish women in Turkey, along with their children.

Data is collected from the second trimester of pregnancy until the child's first birthday. The data encompass socioeconomic and migration-related information, psychological well-being, nutrition, medical risk factors, and MPF stress biology markers (measured from maternal blood and saliva). The infants' development, growth and stress responses are closely monitored through saliva samples and developmental assessments.

  • Maternal Socioeconomic Status: How does income, education, and access to resources impact maternal stress levels and, subsequently, infant health?
  • Migration Background: What unique stressors do migrant women face, and how do these stressors affect their pregnancy and their child's development?
  • Stress Biology: How do biological markers of stress, such as cortisol levels, in both mother and child, correlate with health outcomes?
The study will test specific hypotheses about the relationships between migration background, socioeconomic status, and MPF stress biology. Ultimately, the goal is to quantify how maternal migration background and social disadvantage contribute to MPF stress biology and, consequently, impact pregnancy and child health.

Why This Research Matters: A Path to Health Equity

This study is a crucial step toward understanding how health disparities are transmitted across generations, specifically within the Turkish-origin community in Germany. By focusing on fetal programming, researchers hope to identify key intervention points for breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform targeted interventions and policies that support pregnant women and their families. By addressing the root causes of maternal stress and promoting healthy pregnancies, we can improve health outcomes for both mothers and their children.

Ultimately, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that alter disease vulnerability in minority and disadvantaged populations is essential for achieving health equity for all. This study provides valuable insights that can be used to create a healthier future for generations to come.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

1

What is the significance of the Maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) axis in this research?

The study focuses on the Maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) axis to understand how maternal stress impacts infant health. The MPF axis involves biological processes that connect a mother's stress levels to her developing baby. By examining this axis, researchers can identify how factors like migration background and socioeconomic status influence infant health outcomes, as well as long-term health.

2

What is the nature of the study being conducted?

The term refers to a longitudinal cohort study involving 450 mother-child pairs. Data is collected throughout pregnancy and the first year of the child's life, including information on socioeconomic factors, migration, psychological well-being, nutrition, and MPF stress biology markers from maternal blood and saliva. The infants' development, growth, and stress responses are monitored through saliva samples and developmental assessments. This comprehensive data collection is crucial to understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing intergenerational health disparities.

3

How does migration background influence the health of mothers and children?

Migration background introduces unique stressors for women, such as social disadvantage, which can lead to elevated stress levels during pregnancy. These stressors can affect the Maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) axis, influencing infant health and potentially leading to long-term health issues. This study investigates the effects of these stressors on Turkish-origin women in Germany, who often experience higher levels of social disadvantage compared to the general population, to understand the impact on future generations.

4

Why is maternal stress considered a critical factor in this context?

Maternal stress is a critical factor because it can impact the health of future generations. The study investigates how maternal stress during pregnancy affects the MPF axis and, subsequently, infant health outcomes. This involves the study of specific stress biology markers, such as cortisol levels in both mother and child. The goal is to quantify how maternal migration background and social disadvantage contribute to MPF stress biology and impact pregnancy and child health.

5

What is the primary goal of this research?

The study aims to understand how maternal migration background and social disadvantage contribute to MPF stress biology and impact pregnancy and child health. It focuses on Turkish-origin residents in Germany to understand how health disparities are transmitted across generations. By identifying key intervention points, researchers hope to break the cycle of disadvantage and promote health equity.

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