Environmental factors linked to maternal postpartum depression and child mental-emotional-behavioral disorders in urban California kids
Official title: Environmental Determinants, Maternal Postpartum Depression, and Mental-Emotional-Behavioral Disorders in Urban-Dwelling Children
Funded at University of California-Irvine · NIH-11379562 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how things like extreme heat, wildfire smoke, and pollutants may contribute to parental postpartum depression and mental-emotional-behavioral issues in children living in cities, with a focus on Southern California families.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,662 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES037475-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11379562 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are families with children aged 0-20 living in urban Southern California, where exposure to heat, wildfire smoke, or PAHs is a concern, and mothers or parents who have experienced postpartum depression.
✕Less likely to help
Families not exposed to the specific environmental factors or not in the targeted geographic area may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
In this study, researchers will follow families in Southern California to understand how environmental exposures such as heat, wildfire smoke, and PAHs relate to parental postpartum depression and later mental-emotional-behavioral disorders in children and teens. They will examine short- and long-term exposure patterns across seven life stages, from before conception through adolescence. The team will use population data and environmental measurements to explore potential causal links and how maternal mood may influence child outcomes. The goal is to identify modifiable environmental factors that could reduce risk for both parents and children in urban settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform public health strategies to reduce environmental risks and support families, potentially lowering rates of postpartum depression and childhood mental-health disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Existing research shows associations between environmental exposures and mental health in adults and broad pediatric outcomes, but direct links to maternal postpartum depression and child MEB disorders with this design are still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Jun — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Wu, Jun
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.