Child maltreatment and telomere length in middle and older age: retrospective cohort study of 141 748 UK Biobank participants

Zhou, Z. , Lo, C. K.M., Chan, K. L., Chung, R. S.Y., Pell, J. P. , Minnis, H. , Shiels, P. G. , Ip, P. and Ho, F. K. (2023) Child maltreatment and telomere length in middle and older age: retrospective cohort study of 141 748 UK Biobank participants. British Journal of Psychiatry, 223(2), pp. 377-381. (doi: 10.1192/bjp.2023.33) (PMID:36946056)

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Abstract

Background: There is evidence that child maltreatment is associated with shorter telomere length in early life. Aims: This study aims to examine if child maltreatment is associated with telomere length in middle- and older-age adults. Method: This was a retrospective cohort study of 141 748 UK Biobank participants aged 37–73 years at recruitment. Leukocyte telomere length was measured with quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and log-transformed and scaled to have unit standard deviation. Child maltreatment was recalled by participants. Linear regression was used to analyse the association. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, participants with three or more types of maltreatment presented with the shortest telomere lengths (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03; P < 0.0001), followed by those with two types of maltreatment (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.00; P = 0.02), referent to those who had none. When adjusted for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, the telomere lengths of participants with three or more types of maltreatment were still shorter (β = −0.04, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.02; P = 0.0008). The telomere lengths of those with one type of maltreatment were not significantly different from those who had none. When mutually adjusted, physical abuse (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.03; P < 0.0001) and sexual abuse (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to 0.00; P = 0.02) were independently associated with shorter telomere length. Conclusions: Our findings showed that child maltreatment is associated with shorter telomere length in middle- and older-aged adults, independent of sociodemographic and mental health factors.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (Project No.: GCHC/SPG/2021/05).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Minnis, Professor Helen and Pell, Professor Jill and Ho, Dr Frederick and Zhou, Ziyi and Shiels, Professor Paul
Authors: Zhou, Z., Lo, C. K.M., Chan, K. L., Chung, R. S.Y., Pell, J. P., Minnis, H., Shiels, P. G., Ip, P., and Ho, F. K.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Mental Health and Wellbeing
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher:Royal College of Psychiatrists
ISSN:0007-1250
ISSN (Online):1472-1465
Published Online:22 March 2023
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s), 2023
First Published:First published in British Journal of Psychiatry 223(2):377-381
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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