Material hardship and telomere length in children.

ABSTRACT: Telomere length (TL) serves as a biomarker of exposure to stressors, including material hardship. Data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (1998-2015) were utilized to determine whether prior material hardship was associated with shorter salivary TL at years 9 and 15. 49% of the year 9 study population were female, 49% were Black, and 25% were Hispanic. At year 9 (N = 1990), regression analyses found a significant association between prior material hardship and shorter TL (β = -.005, p < .01). Additionally, at year 15 (N = 1874), material hardship experienced during infancy and toddlerhood was associated with shorter TL (β = -.009, p < .01), pointing toward infancy and toddlerhood as a sensitive period.

SUBMITTER: Moeckel C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11579632 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov-Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature