Toxic Stress In Children

People are exposed to numerous amounts of positive and negative events throughout their lifetime. No one is given a life that is perfect or free from difficulty. Whether it is a death in the family, chronic illness, house fire, automobile accident, or any other type of impacting event, stressors are bound to occur throughout one’s life. Since people are constantly exposed to stressors in life, it is essential that one is able to adequately cope. There are three types of responses to stress. The first is the positive stress response, which is a normal and brief response to stress and is characterized by a mild increase in heart rate (“Toxic Stress,” 2017). One example of a positive stress response could be the slight apprehension one feels before

meeting a new person. The second type of response to stress is known as the tolerable stress response and is due to a more severe and longer lasting struggle, such as the death of a loved one (Harvard.edu). The help of a strong adult support system can help a child get through this trial without suffering from damaging residual effects (“Toxic Stress,” 2017). The third type of stress response is the toxic stress response and occurs when a child is exposed to “severe, prolonged, or repetitive adversity with a lack of the necessary nurturance or support of a caregiver to prevent an abnormal stress response” (Franke, 2014, p. 391). A few examples of situations that could lead to toxic stress include abuse, neglect, violence, or severe poverty. When a child is exposed to prolonged adverse events without a support system buffer, it can disrupt the child’s development and cause many severe issues for the child’s future.
The human body is created in such a unique way that it actually has a physiological process of responding to stress. When an individual perceives a threat, the body undergoes a process known as fight or flight, which comprises a series of physiological changes such as an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate (Franke, 2014). This fight or flight response is a protective mechanism and is a normal, healthy response when the precipitating stressor is short lived. Detrimental effects occur when the human body sustains such physiological reactions. If a child’s vital signs remain elevated over an extended period of time due to extreme, consistent stressors, permanent long term health effects can occur (Franke, 2014). One particular journal article conducted research on how exactly the stress response occurs in the human body and how it affects early childhood development. The article states that the brain, endocrine system, and immune system all work together to maintain balance in the body (Johnson, Riley, Granger, & Riis, 2013). Most of the immune system is developed while in utero and during the first year of life. Research has found that if an expectant mother is under chronic stress, it can inhibit the development of the child’s immune system, which can lead to long term illness for the child. The mother also provides the child with immunity through the placenta and also after birth through breast milk. The journal article states that it is essential that a child develop a healthy immune system, as the immune system is able to communicate via hormones with the brain and endocrine system. All three of the systems together play a significant role in how the body physiologically responds to stress. If a child is not able to develop a healthy immune system early in life due to maternal stressors, the child is more susceptible to illnesses later in life and delayed development. This can in turn lead to a stressful environment for the child. (Johnson et al., 2013).
Since the human body undergoes a pathophysiological response to stress, it becomes evident that detrimental effects to one’s physical, cognitive, and psychosocial development can occur if the body is in a toxic stress state continually. These detrimental effects can cause developmental delays during childhood, but also can affect one’s health as an adult. In fact, the greater the degree of toxic stress a child experiences correlates with a stronger probability of acquiring health problems later in life such as heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression (“Toxic Stress,” 2017). One peer reviewed journal looked at the effects of toxic stress on the developing child brain and found that children who were exposed to continual toxic stress developed permanent changes in brain structure and function which led to difficulties with learning, behavior, mood control, and memory capability (Shonkoff & Garner, 2012). It also found that due to the structural changes in the brain associated with toxic stress, children tend to experience more fear and anxiety, while also displaying disparities in developing their cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional skills (Shonkoff & Garner, 2012). While it is clear that the growing child with toxic stress will experience more developmental delays in life, the journal article also states that the disparities do not stop there, but instead continue into adulthood. The article provides further information that as the child ages into young adulthood, there is higher risk for abuse of alcohol, drugs, promiscuity, and engaging in high risk behaviors. These teens and adults who experienced toxic stress as a child are more prone to “gang membership, unemployment, poverty, homelessness, violent crime, incarceration, and becoming single parents” (Shonkoff & Garner, 2012, p. 237). In addition, the young adults who do have children are also at higher risk of not giving their own child the supportive relationship needed to prevent the cycle of toxic stress from being passed down to their own child (Shonkoff & Garner, 2012).
The harmful effects of toxic stress are clear, thus it is imperative to take action to identify and prevent toxic stress.

Research has shown that children who are at highest risk for toxic stress are those exposed to social isolation, poverty, family violence, and parents with substance abuse or depression (Franke, 2014). If adults and authority figures can identify toxic stress in children during the early stages, measures can be taken to prevent the harmful effects that are associated with this high stress level. Treatment of toxic stress should be aimed towards helping children learn to deal with stress in a healthy manner and responding to the child’s needs (Franke, 2014). Providing children with a strong support system is crucial so children have an outlet to communicate with and receive advice on healthy coping mechanisms. Examples of a buffering support system could be a parent, relative, social worker, or counselor. Recent research has also found that treatment of toxic stress can occur through teaching relaxation methods such as breathing techniques and guided imagery (Franke, 2014). It may also be beneficial to focus on the caretaker of the child by providing educational opportunities regarding toxic stress and by administering social resources for the parents, such as parenting classes to help with problem solving skills (Franke, 2014). It is also important that the nation as a whole raise awareness of the issue of toxic stress and provide schools,

pediatricians, and communities with the knowledge to identify the problem and resources to help with early intervention (Franke, 2014).
Personally, I do not feel I have ever truly exhibited a toxic stress response.

I do feel I had the opportunity to experience toxic stress, but I was lucky enough to have a strong support system during the most difficult times in my life to help buffer my experiences. I feel that I have really only exhibited a tolerable stress response in my life. I believe my life was shaken up the most when my parents divorced. I was only ten years old when it happened. After the divorce, my whole world started to shift. My mother went through a depression and spent time in multiple rehab centers. My siblings and I were forced to go live with my grandparents for a little while and had to change schools. The shakeup in my environment left me going through my middle school years with uncertainty and an inconsistent routine. I was always wondering which parent would pick me up from school, who would I live with each weekend, and which church I would be attending on Sundays. It was an extremely stressful situation and definitely had the potential to cause toxic stress in my life. I feel that my grandparents were the reason this situation did not progress to toxic stress in my life. My grandparents were my solid rock during that season in my life. My grandparents were always available, even when I did not know if I could count on my own parents. My grandparents gave me so much love and support and let me talk through all my feelings with them. I firmly believe they are the ones who got me

through such a difficult time in my life. I cannot imagine how I would have coped without them. I feel toxic stress can strongly harm a child’s development. Children need an outlet and a strong support system to help them through the difficult times in life. I strongly believe toxic stress can lead to potential imbalances in one’s physical health and also interfere with one’s cognitive and emotional development. I believe parents and teachers all need to be aware of the potential causes of toxic stress in children’s lives and help to be a buffer for the child when needed.
In conclusion, toxic stress is a response that occurs when a person experiences a negative event for a prolonged amount of time without a buffer system. The effects of toxic stress not only occur during the trial period, but can cause lasting cognitive, physical, and psychosocial effects throughout a person’s lifespan. It is essential that toxic stress be identified early so that efforts can be made to alleviate the stress response and hopefully prevent the cycle of detrimental lifelong effects.