Childhood adversity, social support, and telomere length among perinatal women

Abstract

Adverse perinatal health outcomes are heightened among women with psychosocial risk factors, including childhood adversity and a lack of social support. Biological aging could be one pathway by which such outcomes occur. However, data examining links between psychosocial factors and indicators of biological aging among perinatal women are limited. The current study examined the associations of childhood socioeconomic status (SES), childhood trauma, and current social support with telomere length in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a sample of 81 women assessed in early, mid, and late pregnancy as well as 7-11 weeks postpartum. Childhood SES was defined as perceived childhood social class and parental educational attainment. Measures included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and average telomere length in PBMCs. Per a linear mixed model, telomere length did not change across pregnancy and postpartum visits; thus, subsequent analyses defined telomere length as the average across all available timepoints. ANCOVAs showed group differences by perceived childhood social class, maternal and paternal educational attainment, and current family social support, with lower values corresponding with shorter telomeres, after adjustment for possible confounds. No effects of childhood trauma or social support from significant others or friends on telomere length were observed. Findings demonstrate that while current SES was not related to telomeres, low childhood SES, independent of current SES, and low family social support were distinct risk factors for cellular aging in women. These data have relevance for understanding potential mechanisms by which early life deprivation of socioeconomic and relationship resources affect maternal health. In turn, this has potential significance for intergenerational transmission of telomere length. The predictive value of markers of biological versus chronological age on birth outcomes warrants investigation.

Keywords: Childhood SES; Childhood trauma; Pregnancy; Social support; Telomeres.

Figure 1. Relationships between Childhood SES Indicators and Telomere Length

Main effects on telomere length were observed for perceived childhood SES (p = 0.02), maternal educational attainment (p = 0.001), and paternal educational attainment (p = 0.01). Post-hoc findings are signified with asterisks. Models were adjusted for age, race, current income level, participant education level, marital status, smoking status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, exercise, and depressive symptoms. HS refers to high school. *p < 0.05; **p ≤ 0.01.

Figure 2. Relationship between Social Support and Telomere Length

A main effect on telomere length was observed in relation to family social support (p = 0.02), with women reporting lower versus higher social support exhibiting shorter telomeres. No effects on telomere length emerged with regard to social support from friends (p = 0.26) or significant others (p = 0.90). Models were adjusted for age, race, current income level, participant education level, marital status, smoking status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, exercise, and depressive symptoms.

Figure 3. Associations between Childhood SES Indicators and Family Social Support with Telomere Length

No significant interactions between family social support and childhood SES indicators on telomere length emerged (ps ≥ 0.14). In educational attainment models, both family social support (ps < 0.02) and the respective parental educational indicator (ps < 0.01) remained as significant main effects. In the childhood SES model, family social support was not significant (p = 0.07) while SES remained significant (p = 0.04). Models were adjusted for age, race, current income level, participant education level, marital status, smoking status, pre-pregnancy body mass index, exercise, and depressive symptoms. HS refers to high school. (n=Low Family Social Support Group [High Family Social Support Group])