Intergenerational effects of maternal lifetime stressor exposure on offspring telomere length in Black and White women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although maternal stressor exposure has been associated with shorter telomere length (TL) in offspring, this literature is based largely on White samples. Furthermore, timing of maternal stressors has rarely been examined. Here, we examined how maternal stressors occurring during adolescence, pregnancy, and across the lifespan related to child TL in Black and White mothers.

Method

Mothers (112 Black; 110 White; M_age = 39) and their youngest offspring (n = 222; M_age = 8) were part of a larger prospective cohort study, wherein mothers reported their stressors during adolescence (assessed twice during adolescence for the past year), pregnancy (assessed in midlife for most recent pregnancy), and across their lifespan (assesse

SUBMITTER: Mayer SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10235210 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature