Association between childhood polyvictimization, telomere length, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Journal
Pediatrics international
Journal Volume
67
Journal Issue
1
Start Page
e70101
ISSN
1442-200X
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Abstract
Background: Child maltreatment is related to adverse psychosocial outcomes and may be associated with telomere erosion. Longitudinal research on mental health problems and telomere length (TL) in victimized children in Asian societies is scarce. In this study, we evaluated the associations of childhood polyvictimization with TL and longitudinal psychological problems. Methods: Subcohorts were obtained from a national, proportionately stratified sample of fourth-grade Taiwanese students recruited in 2014; the sample comprised 70 high-risk group participants (experience of polyvictimization) and 129 controls (nonvictims). For these 199 participants, TL was analyzed in 2014, whereas self-report post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom scales and psychological disorder/symptom were completed in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021. Results: Childhood polyvictimization was associated with prolonged high PTSD symptom scores in 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2021. TL was significantly shorter among the polyvictims than among the nonvictims. Conclusions: This study demonstrated an association between childhood polyvictimization and prolonged PTSD in children. Our findings also support the assertion that childhood polyvictimization is associated with telomere erosion.
Subjects
adverse childhood experiences
polyvictimization
post‐traumatic stress disorder
psychological disorder
telomere erosion
Publisher
John Wiley and Sons Inc
Type
journal article