title: Nonsupportive parenting affects telomere length in young adulthood among African Americans: mediation through substance use.
abstract: Telomere length (TL) is an indicator of age-related changes at the cellular level associated with heightened mortality risk. The effect of nonsupportive parenting (NSP) during late adolescence and young adulthood on TL 5 years later was examined in a sample of N = 183 young adult African Americans to determine if effects of NSP on TL were mediated by substance use. Results indicated that the effect of caregiver reported NSP on diminished TL was mediated by escalation of drinking and smoking in young adulthood, even after controlling effects of socioeconomic status risk, gender, BMI, young adult stress, and intervention status. Results suggest that prevention of NSP may influence later physical health consequences by influencing substance use trajectory.
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research.
authors.forename: Steven R H
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research.
authors.forename: Man Kit
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research.
authors.forename: Gene H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Brody
authors.affiliation: Center for Family Research.
authors.forename: Tianyi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Philibert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D059506:Telomere Shortening / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult