# Intergenerational Transmission of Stress: Psychosocial and Biological Mechanisms

> **NIH NIH R01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $613,721

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite growing evidence that health outcomes are perpetuated across generations, empirical examinations
of putative mechanisms underlying this intergenerational transmission are lacking. Explanatory mechanisms
often focus on stress, which manifests in both psychological and physical symptoms. Relevant pathways have
primarily been tested within a single generation or in non-human animal research. From mouse to man,
evidence suggests that interplay across stress-related biological (e.g., cortisol, inflammation, telomeres) and
psychosocial (e.g., social integration, health behaviors) factors critically contribute to the intergenerational
transmission of health. The proposed study will examine the psychosocial ad biological mechanisms through
which adversity transmits adverse mental and physical health outcomes across 3 generations and promotes
the maintenance of health disparities. To this end, we will leverage a large (G1, n=1,630) and diverse (33%
African-American) sample of older adults (currently aged 64-73) enrolled in an ongoing NIH-funded
longitudinal study of stress and health and recruit their children (G2, n=2,200) and grandchildren (G3,
n=1,900) to complete self-report questionnaires assessing stress, psychosocial factors, and health. From
these, a subsample of 300 (150 Black and 150 White) G1/G2/G3 triads (total N=900) will visit our lab to
provide blood and saliva measures so that we may assay the stress hormone cortisol, as well as inflammation
markers. We will assay both their basal function and evoked activity. Triads and dyads will return to the lab
2.5 years later for a repeat assessment. All measures will be integrated with existing G1 data from our ongoing
longitudinal samples. Investigating the intergenerational transmission of stress-related psychosocial and
biological factors promises to inform our understanding of how health outcomes and racial health disparities
are perpetuated across generations and, may, ultimately guide targeted prevention and public policy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10065479
- **Project number:** 5R01AG061162-03
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** RYAN H BOGDAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $613,721
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-15 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10065479

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10065479, Intergenerational Transmission of Stress: Psychosocial and Biological Mechanisms (5R01AG061162-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10065479. Licensed CC0.

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