1
|
Willems YE, deSteiguer A, Tanksley PT, Vinnik L, Fraemke D, Okbay A, Richter D, Wagner GG, Hertwig R, Koellinger P, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP, Raffington L. Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:22. [PMID: 38331797 PMCID: PMC10854186 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01637-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here, we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (principal-component PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (PhenoAge Acceleration β = - .34, [- .51, - .17], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration β = - .34, [- .49, - .19], p < .001), but not young adults, adolescents or children. These associations remained statistically robust even after correcting for possible confounders such as socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with self-reported disease (PhenoAge Acceleration: β = .13 [.06, .19], p < .001; GrimAge Acceleration: β = .19 [.12, .26], p < .001; DunedinPACE: β = .09 [.02, .17], p = .01). However, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, suggesting that customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y E Willems
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - A deSteiguer
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - P T Tanksley
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - L Vinnik
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - D Fraemke
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Okbay
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Richter
- SHARE Berlin Institute GmbH, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - G G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
- German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin, Germany
| | - R Hertwig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - P Koellinger
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E M Tucker-Drob
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - K P Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin, USA
| | - Laurel Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Lentzeallee 94, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lei MK, Berg MT, Simons RL, Beach SRH. Specifying the psychosocial pathways whereby child and adolescent adversity shape adult health outcomes. Psychol Med 2023; 53:6027-6036. [PMID: 36268877 PMCID: PMC10120399 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172200318x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social scientists generally agree that health disparities are produced, at least in part, by adverse social experiences, especially during childhood and adolescence. Building on this research, we use an innovative method to measure early adversity while drawing upon a biopsychosocial perspective on health to formulate a model that specifies indirect pathways whereby childhood and adolescent adversity become biologically embedded and influence adult health. METHOD Using nearly 20 years of longitudinal data from 382 Black Americans, we use repeated-measures latent class analysis (RMLCA) to construct measures of childhood/adolescent adversities and their trajectories. Then, we employ structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of childhood/adolescent adversity on health outcomes in adulthood through psychosocial maladjustment. RESULTS RMLCA identified two classes for each component of childhood/adolescent adversity across the ages of 10 to 18, suggesting that childhood/adolescent social adversities exhibit a prolonged heterogeneous developmental trajectory. The models controlled for early and adult mental health, sociodemographic and health-related covariates. Psychosocial maladjustment, measured by low self-esteem, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and lack of self-control, mediated the relationship between childhood/adolescent adversity, especially parental hostility, racial discrimination, and socioeconomic class, and both self-reported illness and blood-based accelerated biological aging (with proportion mediation ranging from 8.22% to 79.03%). CONCLUSION The results support a biopsychosocial model of health and provide further evidence that, among Black Americans, early life social environmental experiences, especially parenting, financial stress, and racial discrimination, are associated with adult health profiles, and furthermore, psychosocial mechanisms mediate this association.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Mark T. Berg
- Department of Sociology and Criminology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sullivan ADW, Bozack AK, Cardenas A, Comer JS, Bagner DM, Forehand R, Parent J. Parenting Practices May Buffer the Impact of Adversity on Epigenetic Age Acceleration Among Young Children With Developmental Delays. Psychol Sci 2023; 34:1173-1185. [PMID: 37733001 PMCID: PMC10626625 DOI: 10.1177/09567976231194221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined whether children exposed to adversity would exhibit lower epigenetic age acceleration in the context of improved parenting. Children with developmental delays and externalizing behavior problems (N = 62; Mage = 36.26 months; 70.97% boys, 29.03% girls; 71% Latinx, 22.6% Black) were drawn from a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT), which randomized them to receive Internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy (iPCIT; n = 30) or community referrals as usual (RAU; n = 32). Epigenetic age acceleration was estimated with the pediatric buccal epigenetic clock, using saliva. Adversity was assessed using parent, family, and neighborhood-level cumulative-risk indicators. Adversity interacted with Time 2 (T2) observations of positive and negative-parenting practices to predict epigenetic age acceleration 1.5 years later, regardless of treatment assignment. Children exposed to more adversity displayed lower epigenetic age acceleration when parents evidenced increased positive (b = -0.15, p = .001) and decreased negative (b = -0.12, p = .01) parenting practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra D. W. Sullivan
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health and Community, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Anne K. Bozack
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Andres Cardenas
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Medicine, Stanford University
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University
| | - Jonathan S. Comer
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
| | - Daniel M. Bagner
- Department of Psychology and Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
| | - Rex Forehand
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont
| | - Justin Parent
- Bradley-Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, Providence, RI
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Willems YE, deSteiguer A, Tanksley PT, Vinnik L, Främke D, Okbay A, Richter D, Wagner GG, Hertwig R, Koellinger P, Tucker-Drob EM, Harden KP, Raffington L. Self-control is associated with health-relevant disparities in buccal DNA-methylation measures of biological aging in older adults. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.08.30.23294816. [PMID: 37693450 PMCID: PMC10491374 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.30.23294816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Self-control is a personality dimension that is associated with better physical health and a longer lifespan. Here we examined (1) whether self-control is associated with buccal and saliva DNA-methylation (DNAm) measures of biological aging quantified in children, adolescents, and adults, and (2) whether biological aging measured in buccal DNAm is associated with self-reported health. Following preregistered analyses, we computed two DNAm measures of advanced biological age (PhenoAge and GrimAge Acceleration) and a DNAm measure of pace of aging (DunedinPACE) in buccal samples from the German Socioeconomic Panel Study (SOEP-G[ene], n = 1058, age range 0-72, Mage = 42.65) and saliva samples from the Texas Twin Project (TTP, n = 1327, age range 8-20, Mage = 13.50). We found that lower self-control was associated with advanced biological age in older adults (β =-.34), but not young adults, adolescents or children. This association was not accounted for by statistical correction for socioeconomic contexts, BMI, or genetic correlates of low self-control. Moreover, a faster pace of aging and advanced biological age measured in buccal DNAm were associated with worse self-reported health (β =.13 to β = .19). But, effect sizes were weaker than observations in blood, thus customization of DNAm aging measures to buccal and saliva tissues may be necessary. Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that self-control is associated with health via pathways that accelerate biological aging in older adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y E Willems
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - A deSteiguer
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - P T Tanksley
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - L Vinnik
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - D Främke
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - A Okbay
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | - D Richter
- Department of Education and Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin
- SHARE Berlin, Berlin
| | - G G Wagner
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
- German Socio Economic Panel Study (SOEP), Berlin
| | - R Hertwig
- Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| | - P Koellinger
- School of Business and Economics, Economics Fellow, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Complex Trait Genetics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
- Department of Economics, School of Business and Economics, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam
| | | | - K P Harden
- Population Research Center, The University of Texas, Austin
| | - L Raffington
- Max Planck Research Group Biosocial - Biology, Social Disparities, and Development, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ong ML, Klopack ET, Carter S, Simons RL, Beach SRH. School Disengagement Predicts Accelerated Aging among Black American Youth: Mediation by Psychological Maladjustment and Moderation by Supportive Parenting. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12034. [PMID: 36231334 PMCID: PMC9564392 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Early experiences of school disengagement may serve as a warning sign for later young adult adjustment difficulties and eventually contribute to accelerated aging among Black American youth. At the same time, supportive parenting may play a protective role. Using longitudinal data from the Family and Community Health Study (FACHS), we examined psychological maladjustment (comprising depression, lack of self-regulation, and low self-esteem) as a mediator of the relationship between school disengagement and accelerated aging. We also examined the effect of supportive parenting in buffering the impact of school disengagement on adulthood outcomes by controlling for covariates. Hypotheses were examined in a sample of 386 (Mean age = 28.68; Females = 62.7%; Males = 37.3%) Black American youth who were followed into young adulthood. Path modeling was used to test hypothesized relationships. We found school disengagement, i.e., problems with school attendance, performance, and engagement, reported across ages 10-18, predicted psychological maladjustment, which, in turn, predicted accelerated aging at age 29. We also found a buffering effect for supportive parenting. No significant gender difference in the indirect effect or buffering effect was found. This study highlights the potential importance of greater attention to school disengagement to identify and potentially influence long-term health trajectories and adult outcomes for Black American youth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mei Ling Ong
- Center for Family Research, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Eric T. Klopack
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Sierra Carter
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
| | - Ronald L. Simons
- Department of Sociology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Steven R. H. Beach
- Center for Family Research, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lei MK, Beach SRH. Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with biological aging: Intervention-induced enhancement of couple functioning confers resilience. FAMILY PROCESS 2022:e12808. [PMID: 36008918 PMCID: PMC10155753 DOI: 10.1111/famp.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The accelerated pace of biological aging predicts mortality and morbidity later in life. The current study examines whether a change in supportive couple functioning buffers accelerated aging associated with stressful community environments among Black Americans who live in rural, Southern, disadvantaged neighborhoods. We examined 348 Black American middle-aged adults assigned randomly to receive the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) intervention or a control condition. The program was designed to enhance supportive couple functioning among Black Americans. We used DunedinPoAm to quantify the methylation pace of aging and employed the Area Deprivation Index at the census block group level to measure neighborhood disadvantage. Neighborhood disadvantage was associated with the accelerated pace of aging. Further, participation in ProSAAF enhanced supportive couple functioning, and improvement in couple functioning protected participants from the harmful effects of neighborhood disadvantage on the accelerated pace of aging. These findings supported mediated moderation and suggested that family-based prevention programs that enhance couple support may decrease the erosive effects of neighborhood disadvantage and improve prospects for healthy aging among rural, Southern, Black Americans living in difficult circumstances. This may provide a supplemental strategy for decreasing health disparities due to neighborhood disadvantage by enhancing family systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Man-Kit Lei
- Department of Sociology, University of Georgia
| | - Steven R. H. Beach
- Department of Psychology and Center for Family Research, University of Georgia
| |
Collapse
|