Does High Self-Control Accelerate Epigenetic Aging in Low-Income Adolescents?

Persistent self-control in the context of upward mobility in low-income adolescents, especially those of color, may have physiological costs, such as greater risks of developing cardiometabolic diseases in young adulthood. One potential mechanism linking self-control to cardiometabolic health is epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). However, little is known regarding the association between high self-control and EAA, as well as what factors may play protective roles. Therefore, we evaluated (1) the association between self-control and EAA and if this association varies by race and ethnicity, and (2) whether neighborhood collective efficacy (NCE) and school connectedness moderate the association in low-income adolescents.

This study used data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Participants included 772 adolescents with a household income <300% of poverty level (mean age: 15.6 years). Self-control, NCE, and school connectedness were all self-reported. EAA was assessed in saliva and estimated using Horvath, Skin and Blood, and Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic clocks. Multiple linear regression and PROCESS analyses were employed.

Higher self-control was positively associated with EAA estimated by the skin and blood clock in low-income adolescents of color. Further, the association of higher self-control with EAA was not significant among low-income adolescents of color with higher NCE. No significant association was found among low-income White adolescents.

The results suggest that supportive resources like neighborhood collective efficacy could mitigate adverse associations of high self-control with health in low-income adolescents of color.