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Cited by 10Birth, Development, and HealthMaternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and PostpartumChild Abuse and Trauma

Association of Parental Famine Exposure With Offspring Depression and Cognition Function

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Liu, Ye, Liu, Yu, Lu, Yuzhu, Li, Jiangping, He, Shulan·2022·Frontiers in Psychiatry
DOI 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.812805PMC PMC9016118
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Abstract

Background: The effect of early exposure to famine on depression and cognition in adulthood has been shown, but the intergenerational association of famine remain to be explored. This study focused on exploring the association of parental famine exposure with depression and cognition in the offspring. Methods: Based on the Chinese Family Panel Studies database, which is a longitudinal survey, we included 5,150 individuals born between 1959 and 1961 and divided them into fetal-exposed, infancy-exposed (birth year = 1957–1958), school-age-exposed (birth year = 1949–1956), adolescent-exposed (birth year = 1946–1948), and unexposed groups. We used one-way analysis of variance, multiple linear regression, and one follow-up measurement to analyze the association between parental famine exposure and offspring depression and cognitive function. Results: Compared with the unexposed group, the correlations between parental famine exposure during fetal period and their cognitive function (mother: β = –1.614, 95% CI: –2.535, –0.693; p = 0.001; father: β = –2.153, 95% CI: –3.104, –1.202, p < 0.001) were significant. For the offspring, there was a negative correlation between famine exposure of fathers during the fetal period and depression in their offspring (β = –0.477, 95% CI: –0.907, –0.047; p = 0.030). There was a negative correlation between maternal famine exposure during the infant and adolescent period and cognitive function in the offspring (math test: β = –0.730, 95% CI: –1.307, –0.153; p = 0.013; word test: β = –2.346, 95% CI: –4.067, –0.625; p = 0.008). Limitations: Not all variables related to depression and cognition function were included in the CFPS database, and the other unknown or unmeasured confounders may explain our results.

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  • Prenatal famine exposure corresponds with long-term variation in cognitive and emotional regulation consistent with altered neural and glucocorticoid signaling pathways.

    “Prenatal famine exposure corresponds with long-term variation in cognitive and emotional regulation consistent with altered neural and glucocorticoid signaling pathways (69, 70).”

    From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [69]

    The Results and Conclusion report associations between fetal famine exposure and later cognitive function, and between fathers’ fetal exposure and depression in their offspring. The Discussion proposes effects on brain development as a possible explanation, but does not establish a neural mechanism; the copy does not address glucocorticoid signaling or emotional regulation specifically. The Limitations also state that the study could not establish the mechanisms linking famine to these outcomes. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • In famine-exposed populations, chronic undernutrition has been associated with alterations in neurodevelopmental and stress-regulatory systems.

    “In famine-exposed populations, chronic undernutrition has been associated with alterations in neurodevelopmental and stress-regulatory systems.”

    From Epigenetic changes associated with multi-generational trauma: characterization, mechanisms, and therapeutics (2026) · cites this paper as [69]

    The Introduction links malnutrition to altered brain development, and the Discussion section on late-life cognitive function says famine-related malnutrition may hinder central nervous system development. Our copy does not link undernutrition to alterations in stress-regulatory systems; its discussion of depression does not establish that mechanism. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Liu, Y., Liu, Y., Lu, Y., Li, J., & He, S.
Affiliations
Ningxia Medical University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Li, Jiangping
  • He, Shulan
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Psychiatry
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2022-04-05
Volume
13
Pages
812805-812805
ISSN
1664-0640 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fpsyt.2022.812805
PMC
PMC9016118
OpenAlex
W4224064548
Cited by
10
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 3
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Birth, Development, and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
Keywords
Great Leap Forward famine, intergenerational effects, offspring depression, cognitive function, prenatal exposure, maternal exposure, paternal exposure, children's exposure, China Family Panel Studies

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