Community threat, positive parenting, and accelerated epigenetic aging: Longitudinal links from childhood to adolescence
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Early life adversity (ELA) has been linked to accelerated epigenetic aging. While positive parenting is hypothesized to buffer the effects of ELA, its role in mitigating epigenetic age acceleration remains unclear. Data from 2,039 children (49.7% female; 46.7% Black, 26.5% Hispanic, and 19% White non-Hispanic) in the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study were included. Home threat, community threat, and parenting were measured from ages 3 to 9 (2001-2010). Epigenetic age acceleration was assessed at ages 9 and 15 (2007-2017). Positive parenting reduced the pace of epigenetic aging in contexts of low, but not high, community threat (β = .026, p = .039). Interventions across multiple socioecological systems may be necessary to prevent the biological embedding of ELA.
Source: Child Development
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,320
Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1382563891, G217759803, G3948463911, Epigenomic mechanisms of risk and resilience: The role of parenting, Research Training in Childhood Stress, Trauma, and Resilience, G796372128, G9000017763, G9000111253, G9000279739, COBRE for Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR), Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing - Young Adulthood
OpenAlex ID: W7118767589