DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/V8QP-RQ77
Defense Date
2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Wendy Kliewer, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Marcia Winter, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
Ananda Amstadter, Ph.D.
Fourth Advisor
Timothy P. York, Ph.D.
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to examine if childhood sexual abuse (CSA) was associated with decreases in mean telomere length (TL), and if social support and/or optimism moderated this association. The study included 99 Caucasian female monozygotic twins, ranging in age from 19-48 (Mage = 30.5, SD = 7.8) at Time 1. Linear mixed effects models were employed to test study hypotheses. Analyses with all participants did not detect an effect of CSA exposure or severity on mean TL, nor were there effects with optimism. However, in analyses that only included women exposed to abuse, increases in social support were associated with increases in mean TL. Further, for women who experienced non-genital abuse, social support was positively associated with mean TL. Findings from the current study clarify the role of CSA in telomere attrition, and factors that may protect against the negative biological effects of CSA.
Rights
© David W. Sosnowski
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-7-2017