• S El-Heis, S R Crozier, E Healy, S M Robinson, N C Harvey, C Cooper, H M Inskip, J Baird, Southampton Women's Survey Study Group, and K M Godfrey.
• Medical Research Council Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
• Clin. Exp. Allergy. 2017 Jun 1; 47 (6): 760-769.

BackgroundPerinatal maternal stress and low mood have been linked to offspring atopic eczema.ObjectivesTo examine the relation of maternal stress/mood with atopic eczema in the offspring, focusing particularly on stress/psychological distress preconception.MethodsAt recruitment in the UK Southampton Women's Survey, preconception maternal reports of perceived stress in daily living and the effect of stress on health were recorded; in a subsample, psychological distress was assessed (12-item General Health Questionnaire). Infants were followed up at ages 6 (n = 2956) and 12 (n = 2872) months and atopic eczema ascertained (based on UK Working Party Criteria for the Definition of Atopic Dermatitis). At 6 months post-partum, mothers were asked if they had experienced symptoms of low mood since childbirth and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.ResultsPreconception perceived stress affecting health [OR 1.21 (95% CI 1.08-1.35), P = 0.001] and stress in daily living [OR 1.16 (1.03-1.30), P = 0.014] were associated with an increased risk of offspring atopic eczema at age 12 months but not at 6 months, robust to adjustment for potentially confounding variables. Findings were similar for maternal psychological distress preconception. Low maternal mood between delivery and 6 months post-partum was associated with an increased risk of infantile atopic eczema at age 12 months, but no significant association between post-natal mood and atopic eczema was seen after taking account of preconception stress.Conclusion And Clinical RelevanceOur data provide novel evidence linking maternal stress at preconception to atopic eczema risk, supporting a developmental contribution to the aetiology of atopic eczema and pointing to potentially modifiable influences.© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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