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The Counterintuitive Relationship between Telomerase Activity and Childhood Emotional Abuse: Culture and Complexity

Author

Listed:
  • Clifton R. Emery

    (SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Qian-Wen Xie

    (School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China)

  • Jessie S. M. Chan

    (Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Ling-Li Leng

    (SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Celia H. Y. Chan

    (SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Kwok-Fai So

    (State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
    Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Ang Li

    (Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China)

  • Kevin K. T. Po

    (State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Zoe Chouliara

    (Independent Practice, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH7, UK)

  • Cecilia Lai Wan Chan

    (SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

  • Anna W. M. Choi

    (Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong)

  • L. P. Yuen

    (International Association for Health and Yangsheng, 20 Venturi Rd., Happy Valley, Hong Kong)

  • Kam Shing Ku

    (Haven of Hope Haven of Hope Christian Service, 7 Haven of Hope Rd, Hong Kong)

  • Winnie Kung

    (Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, NY 10023, USA)

  • Siu-Man Ng

    (SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A burgeoning literature has found relationships between telomere length, telomerase activity, and human health and longevity. Although some research links a history of childhood adversity with shortened telomere length, our review found no prior research on the relationship between child maltreatment history and telomerase activity in adulthood. We hypothesized a negative relationship between child maltreatment and telomerase activity and hypothesized that the association would be moderated by sex. METHODS: These relationships were tested on a sample of 262 Hong Kong Chinese adults (200 females versus 62 males) with mild to moderate depression. RESULTS: Counterintuitively, emotional abuse was positively associated with telomerase activity, while other maltreatment types were non-significant. The positive relationship between emotional abuse and telomerase activity was significantly moderated by the sex of the participant. CONCLUSIONS: We advance two possible explanations for this finding (1) a culturally informed resilience explanation and (2) a homeostatic complexity explanation. The two explanations are not mutually exclusive. This trial is registered under Hong Kong Clinical Trial Register number HKCTR-1929. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Emotional abuse was significantly positively associated with telomerase activity. There are at least two non-mutually exclusive explanations for the findings. Simply put, either (1) in the cultural context of Hong Kong emotional abuse was not a risk factor, and/or (2) the conceptualization of telomerase activity as a straightforward indicator of longevity is overly simplistic. The first story we might term a “resilience explanation” while the second we might call a “homeostatic complexity” story.

Suggested Citation

  • Clifton R. Emery & Qian-Wen Xie & Jessie S. M. Chan & Ling-Li Leng & Celia H. Y. Chan & Kwok-Fai So & Ang Li & Kevin K. T. Po & Zoe Chouliara & Cecilia Lai Wan Chan & Anna W. M. Choi & L. P. Yuen & Ka, 2021. "The Counterintuitive Relationship between Telomerase Activity and Childhood Emotional Abuse: Culture and Complexity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:4:p:1619-:d:495827
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mariela Jaskelioff & Florian L. Muller & Ji-Hye Paik & Emily Thomas & Shan Jiang & Andrew C. Adams & Ergun Sahin & Maria Kost-Alimova & Alexei Protopopov & Juan Cadiñanos & James W. Horner & Eleftheri, 2011. "Telomerase reactivation reverses tissue degeneration in aged telomerase-deficient mice," Nature, Nature, vol. 469(7328), pages 102-106, January.
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