Knowledge Tree
telomeres
Facts (11)
Sources
Stress, Lifestyle, and Health – Introduction to Psychology open.maricopa.edu 7 facts
claimStress can accelerate the cell biology of aging by shortening telomeres, which are DNA segments that protect the ends of chromosomes, according to a 2004 study by Sapolsky.
claimEntringer et al. (2011) reported that young adults whose mothers experienced severe stress during pregnancy had shorter telomeres compared to those whose mothers had stress-free and uneventful pregnancies.
measurementEpel et al. (2004) conducted a study comparing telomere lengths in the white blood cells of mothers caring for chronically ill children against mothers of healthy children, finding that the longer a mother had spent caregiving, the shorter her telomeres (correlation r = -.40).
measurementEpel et al. (2004) found that the average telomere length of the most stressed mothers was similar to that of people 9–17 years older than them, compared to the least stressed mothers.
measurementIn the study by Epel et al. (2004), higher levels of perceived stress in mothers were negatively correlated with telomere size (r = -.31).
claimBlackburn and Epel (2012) summarized that numerous studies have found associations between stress and eroded telomeres.
claimShortened telomeres can inhibit or block cell division, including the growth and proliferation of new cells, which leads to more rapid aging.
Stress, Lifestyle, and Health – Psychology 2e OpenStax pressbooks.cuny.edu 4 facts
claimYoung adults whose mothers experienced severe stress during pregnancy have shorter telomeres compared to those whose mothers had stress-free pregnancies, according to a study by Entringer et al. (2011).
measurementThe average telomere length of the most stressed mothers in the Epel et al. (2004) study was similar to that found in people who were 9 to 17 years older than the mothers on average.
measurementIn a study comparing mothers of chronically ill children to mothers of healthy children, the longer a mother spent caregiving, the shorter her telomeres were (correlation r = -.40), and higher levels of perceived stress were negatively correlated with telomere size (r = -.31), according to Epel et al. (2004).
claimStress can accelerate the cell biology of aging by shortening telomeres, which are segments of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes and inhibit cell division when shortened, as suggested by a 2004 study by Sapolsky.