War Exposure and DNA Methylation in Syrian Refugee Children and Adolescents.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Exposure to war is associated with poor mental health outcomes. Adverse and traumatic experiences can lead to long-lasting DNA methylation changes, potentially mediating the link between adversity and mental health. To date, limited studies have investigated the impact of war on DNA methylation in children or adolescents, hampering our understanding of the biological impact of war exposure.

Objective

To identify salivary DNA methylation differences associated with war exposure in refugee children and adolescents.

Design, setting, and participants

This cohort study included Syrian refugee children and adolescents, and their primary caregiver were recruited from tented settlements in Lebanon. Data collection was carried out in 2 waves, 1 year apart, from Octo

SUBMITTER: Smeeth D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11579893 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature