The long-term associations of childhood parental loss with attachment, creativity, and epigenetic regulation.

ABSTRACT: The loss of a parent during childhood is a profound event with enduring impacts on psychological and emotional development. This study investigates the long-term effects of childhood parental loss on attachment patterns and openness to experience, with a focus on the epigenetic modulation of the oxytocin and dopamine systems. The sample included 371 participants (51.2% women, ages 26-43), of whom 33 experienced parental loss during childhood. In those individuals who lost a parent, findings revealed comparably lower attachment avoidance and a DNA methylation profile associated with a potential for increased oxytocin activity. Additionally, a DNA methylation profile associated with a potential for heightened dopamine activity was identified in this group, aligning with greater creativity. T

SUBMITTER: Dvilansky AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11808068 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature