Social economic status (SES) profoundly influences mental health and human capacity across the lifespan. While the stressors associated with poverty in adulthood are unquestionably important, there is considerable evidence for an effect of childhood SES independent of later SES. SES effects on brain development and function are apparent well before puberty. Although it is well recognized that the influence of SES begins in early life, potentially in utero, the impact of parental SES attainment and its influence onto next generation’s brain health across the lifespan is rarely examined. This issue is of considerable importance for public health policy as the effects of investment in children should include a consideration of the impact on future generations.
About the study
ZEPSOM-Intergenerational is a project based on general population that examines the impact of social economic status on mental and cognitive functioning across the whole life, with a particular aim to explore parental social economic status on offspring’s mental and brain health. Participants in the ZEPSOM-Bio project and their children who meet certain selection criteria are invited to participate in ZEPSOM-Intergenerational. Data collection has been completed during the period of 2019 to 2020.
Funding
This research project received a Discovery Fund from the Healty Brain for Healty life (HBHL)is a high profile, high priority multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral initiative located at McGill University which is supported by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF), Quebec’s Ministère de l'Économie et de l'Innovation (MEI), and the Fonds de recherche du Quebec (FRQS, FRQSC and FRQNT).
Conducted at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, this study is part of the whole ZEPSOM cohort study