Exploring how mothers' trauma affects their children's stress levels
Official title: Using Daily Diaries to Trace Spillover Effects of Maternal Trauma on Children’s Stress Regulation
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11137231 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how mothers of color deal with trauma and experiences of racism, and how these challenges affect their children's ability to handle stress, using daily diaries to track their experiences and parenting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $211,935 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD116166-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137231 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are mothers of color with experiences of trauma and their children aged 0-11 years.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of trauma or are not mothers of color may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal trauma and experiences of racism on children's stress regulation. By using daily diaries, the study aims to capture the fluctuations in maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and parenting behaviors, and how these changes affect children's biological stress responses. The research focuses on mothers of color, who often face unique challenges related to trauma and racism, and seeks to understand the daily dynamics that contribute to child development outcomes. Participants will provide insights into their daily experiences, which will help identify critical pathways for intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting children of trauma-affected mothers, ultimately enhancing their emotional and developmental well-being.
How similar studies have gone: While research on maternal trauma is ongoing, this specific approach using daily diaries to assess immediate effects on child stress regulation is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stein, Sara F. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Stein, Sara F.
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.