Children Exposed to Abuse, Bullying at Risk of Premature Aging
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Any Hawaii personal injury lawyer who deals with cases of sexual abuse, knows that exposure to abuse, bullying and other forms of violent behavior in childhood dramatically affects a child’s psychological state. However, a new study finds that the effects of such exposure to violence may actually be more profound than we know.
The study finds that children who are exposed to violence and bullying are much more likely to age prematurely, compared to children who are not exposed to bullying or abuse.
The researchers analyzed the subjects’ telomeres. When a person begins to age, the telomeres began to shorten in length. The researchers found that children, who were exposed to domestic violence between the mother and her partner, bullying, or physical maltreatment by an adult, suffered quicker shortening of the telomeres. The DNA samples were analyzed when the child was 5 and 10 years old.
The researchers also found that children who had been exposed to more than one form of violence experienced more dramatic shortening of the telomeres, and subsequently, quicker aging.
Bullying and sexual abuse are some of the biggest threats facing vulnerable children in across the country. In recent months, parents and Hawaii personal injury lawyers have been shocked at some of the sexual abuse scandals that have been reported in the media. The Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State University is one scandal that comes to mind. Moreover, there has also been an alarming increase in the number and severity of bullying cases reported from across the country. Some of these incidents have been serious enough to end in death.
Survivors of such abuse or bullying, as the study shows, may be at risk of aging at a much quicker rate than the rest of the population.
AUTHOR: Mark Davis
Copyright Davis Levin Livingston - Google+
More information about Davis Levin Livingston
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
The researchers analyzed the subjects’ telomeres. When a person begins to age, the telomeres began to shorten in length. The researchers found that children, who were exposed to domestic violence between the mother and her partner, bullying, or physical maltreatment by an adult, suffered quicker shortening of the telomeres. The DNA samples were analyzed when the child was 5 and 10 years old.
The researchers also found that children who had been exposed to more than one form of violence experienced more dramatic shortening of the telomeres, and subsequently, quicker aging.
Bullying and sexual abuse are some of the biggest threats facing vulnerable children in across the country. In recent months, parents and Hawaii personal injury lawyers have been shocked at some of the sexual abuse scandals that have been reported in the media. The Jerry Sandusky case at Penn State University is one scandal that comes to mind. Moreover, there has also been an alarming increase in the number and severity of bullying cases reported from across the country. Some of these incidents have been serious enough to end in death.
Survivors of such abuse or bullying, as the study shows, may be at risk of aging at a much quicker rate than the rest of the population.
AUTHOR: Mark Davis
Copyright Davis Levin Livingston - Google+
More information about Davis Levin Livingston
View all articles published by Davis Levin Livingston
Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with an expert and/or lawyer. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.
