Neighborhood Disadvantage and Telomere Length: Results from the Fragile Families Study

In this paper we test whether cumulative exposure to neighborhood disadvantage reduces telomere length and explains racial differences in morbidity and mortality. Telomeres are repetitive nucleotide sequences located on chromosome ends that protect genetic material from deterioration. Telomeres prematurely shorten under high stress levels, foreshadowing future poor health. Using data from the latest wave of the Fragile Families Study, we regressed telomere length (TL) for mothers on two indicators of neighborhood disadvantage developed by Sampson and Wodke et al, controlling for mother's age, education, marital status, birthplace, and BMI as well as household income, household composition, and family structure. Holding constant the effect of these variables we found that cumulative disadvantage had a significant and powerful negative effect on mothers' TL no matter which indicator of neighborhood disadvantage we used. The effect was especially pronounced among African Americans; after introducing neighborhood disadvantage into models, we no longer find a significant black-white gap in telomere length. The effect was especially pronounced among African Americans; after introducing neighborhood disadvantage into models, we no longer find a significant black-white gap in telomere length. Pooling mothers’ and childrens’ data, we found similar results. Our results suggest telomere shortening is a key mechanism by which social structure is internalized and neighborhood disadvantage may explain persistent racial differences in mortality and morbidity. For African Americans, in particular, neighborhood disadvantage is concentrated by the interaction of racial segregation, class segregation, and high rates of poverty, which combine to expose them to a uniquely harsh and stressful residential environment, which over time leads to the shortening of telomeres, which leads to premature aging and poor health in later years, thereby explaining persistent racial differentials in mortality and morbidity that do not disappear when socioeconomic status is controlled.