Psychosocial stressors, accelerated biological aging, and multiple morbidities: Evidence from an age-diverse sample.

All four psychosocial stressors were individually associated with accelerated epigenetic aging and poorer health outcomes.

• The four stressors examined were adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), stressful life events, chronic financial strains, and everyday discrimination.
• Biological aging was measured using DNA methylation-based clocks: GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE.
• Six indicators of physical and mental health outcomes were examined alongside the epigenetic aging measures.
• The sample consisted of 2,267 adults ages 18-103 from a state-representative dataset.

When all four stressors were modeled simultaneously, financial strains and everyday discrimination were more consistent predictors across all outcomes than ACEs or stressful life events.

• Financial strains and everyday discrimination emerged as 'more consistent predictors across all outcomes, relative to childhood adversity and stressful events in adulthood.'
• This pattern held across both epigenetic aging clocks (GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE) and the six health indicators.
• The simultaneous modeling approach distinguished the relative contributions of each stressor type.
• ACEs and stressful life events showed weaker or less consistent associations when other stressors were accounted for.

Stressor effects were more pronounced for mental health outcomes than for physical health outcomes or biological aging.

• The paper states 'stressor effects were more pronounced for mental health compared to physical health or biological aging.'
• Six health indicators were used, spanning both physical and mental health domains.
• This differential effect suggests psychosocial stressors may have stronger or more immediate pathways to mental health compared to biological aging mechanisms.
• The finding held across the multiple stressor types examined.

The study used a state-representative, age-diverse adult sample spanning a wide age range to examine stress and aging associations.

• The sample included 2,267 adults ranging in age from 18 to 103 years.
• The sample was described as 'state-representative,' providing population-level generalizability within the state.
• The wide age range allowed examination of stress-aging associations across the life span.
• DNA methylation data were used to compute GrimAge2 and DunedinPACE biological aging clocks.

Most prior research has focused narrowly on single sources of stress without simultaneously modeling multiple stress exposures occurring across the life span.

• The authors identified this as a gap motivating their multi-stressor simultaneous modeling approach.
• The study addressed stressors occurring at different life stages: childhood (ACEs), adulthood events, ongoing financial strains, and everyday discrimination.
• Simultaneous modeling was used to 'fully account for the health significance of stress exposure.'
• The authors emphasize the importance of 'considering multiple sources of stress on varying indicators of aging, disease, and distress.'