Early Life Adversity and Adult Biological Risk Profiles

Abstract

Objectives To determine whether there is a relationship between early life adversity (ELA) and biological parameters known to predict health risks and to examine the extent to which circumstances in midlife mediate this relationship. Methods We analyzed data on 1,180 respondents from the biomarker subsample of the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study. ELA assessments were based on childhood socioeconomic disadvantage (i.e. on welfare, perceived low income, less-educated parents) and other stressors (e.g., parental death, parental divorce, and parental physical abuse). The outcome variable was cumulative allostatic load (AL), a marker of biological risk. We also incorporate information on adult circumstances, including: education, social relationships, and health behaviors. Results Childhood socioeconomic adversity was associated with increased AL (B=0.094, SE=0.041) and physical abuse (B=0.263, SE=0.091), with non-significant associations for parental divorce and death. Adult education mediated the relationship between socioeconomic ELA and cumulative allostatic load to the point of non-significance, with this factor alone explaining nearly 40% of the relationship. The association between childhood physical abuse and AL remained even after adjusting for adult educational attainments, social relationships, and health behaviors. These associations were most pronounced for secondary stress systems, including inflammation, cardiovascular function, and lipid metabolism. Conclusions The physiological consequences of early life socioeconomic adversity are attenuated by achieving high levels of schooling later on. The adverse consequences of childhood physical abuse, on the other hand, persist in multivariable adjusted analysis.

Social Disadvantage, Severe Child Abuse, and Biological Profiles in Adulthood

“…Fourth, consistent with prior work (Carroll et al 2013; Friedman et al 2015), we found the effects of childhood abuse remain significant even after controlling for several social characteristics, e.g., gender, race, childhood disadvantage. Both the severity and types of childhood abuse determined the magnitude of the poor biological profile.…”

“…However, previous studies have been limited to a single biomarker or physiological pathway. Two recent studies have investigated cumulative dysregulation across multiple systems (Carroll et al 2013; Friedman et al 2015), but these inquiries focused on only emotional and physical abuse. Finally, prior studies have not fully taken into account that dysregulation in stress hormones may present in different ways.…”

Neighborhood features and physiological risk: An examination of allostatic load

“…These behaviors are associated with cardiovascular health problems, many of which are disproportionality represented among individuals living in lower SES neighborhoods. Furthermore, these behaviors are associated with higher allostatic load (Friedman, Karlamanga, Gruenewald, Koretz, & Seeman, 2015) and partially account for associations between lower individual SES and greater allostatic load (Gruenwald et al, 2012). …”

La separación materna durante la lactancia altera los niveles basales neuroendocrinos en ratas adolescentes y adultas

“…En los estudios clínicos en los que se evalúan las consecuencias del maltrato infantil, el abandono materno y el estrés psicosocial, se sugiere que estos factores podrían favorecer el desarrollo de diversas enfermedades mentales, especialmente durante la adolescencia y la edad adulta (2)(3)(4). Se ha reportado que los niños abusados o rechazados por sus padres son más propensos a la depresión y a los trastornos de ansiedad, mientras que una relación estrecha y buena se asocia con un mejor manejo del estrés (5).…”