Chan, K. L., Lo, C. K.M., Chen, X.-Y., Ip, P., Leung, W. C., Shiels, P. G. , Pell, J. P. , Minnis, H. and Ho, F. K. (2023) Association between intimate partner violence and leukocyte telomere length: a retrospective cohort study of 144,049 UK Biobank participants. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 32, e26. (doi: 10.1017/S2045796023000112) (PMCID:PMC10130734)
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Abstract
Aims Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health challenge negatively affecting victims’ health. Telomere length (TL), a marker for biological ageing, might be reflective of the mechanisms through which IPV leads to adverse health outcomes. The objective of the current study was to explore the association between IPV and leucocyte TL. Methods We conducted an analysis using a subset of the UK Biobank (N = 144 049). Physical, sexual and emotional IPV were reported by the participants. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. TL was assayed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We used multivariable linear regressions to test the associations between IPV and TL adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation, education, as well as symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in a sensitivity analysis. Results After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, any IPV was associated with 0.02-S.D. shorter TL (β = −0.02, 95% CI −0.04 to −0.01). Of the three types of IPV, physical violence had a marginally stronger association (β = −0.05, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.02) than the other two types. The associations of numbers of IPV and TL showed a dose–response pattern whereby those who experienced all three types of IPV types had the shortest TL (β = −0.07, 95% CI −0.12 to −0.03), followed by those who experienced two types (β = −0.04, 95% CI −0.07 to −0.01). Following additional adjustment for symptoms of depression and PTSD, the associations were slightly attenuated but the general trend by number of IPVs remained. Conclusions Victims of IPV, particularly those exposed to multiple types of IPVs, had shorter TL indicative of accelerated biological ageing. Given that all three types of IPV are linked to TL, clinical practitioners need to comprehensively identify all types of IPV and those who received multiple types. Further studies should explore the association of violence with changes in TL over time, as well as to which extent biological ageing is a mechanistic factor.
Item Type: | Articles |
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Additional Information: | UK Biobank was established by the Wellcome Trust medical charity, Medical Research Council, Department of Health, Scottish Government and the Northwest Regional Development Agency. This study was supported by Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (Project No.: GCHC/SPG/2021/05), Hong Kong Research Grants Council (Project No.: PolyU 15602419), and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project Code: 1-ZE1R). |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Minnis, Professor Helen and Pell, Professor Jill and Ho, Dr Frederick and Shiels, Professor Paul |
Creator Roles: | Shiels, P.Writing – review and editing Pell, J.Writing – review and editing Minnis, H.Writing – review and editing Ho, F.Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Writing – review and editing |
Authors: | Chan, K. L., Lo, C. K.M., Chen, X.-Y., Ip, P., Leung, W. C., Shiels, P. G., Pell, J. P., Minnis, H., and Ho, F. K. |
College/School: | 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: | Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences |
Publisher: | Cambridge University Press |
ISSN: | 2045-7960 |
ISSN (Online): | 2045-7979 |
Published Online: | 24 April 2023 |
Copyright Holders: | Copyright © TheAuthor(s) 2023 |
First Published: | First published in Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences 32:e26 |
Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a creative commons licence |
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