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Abstract
Research to date has examined telomere length in relation to adverse childhood events but has rarely examined these associations longitudinally. Furthermore, few studies have examined whether protective factors act as a buffer to offset this effect. Using data from the Future Families and Child Wellbeing Study, the current study examines optimism, social connectedness, and neighborhood collective efficacy at age 15 as potential protective factors against the effects of harsh parenting on telomere attrition during adolescence. This study examines cumulative exposure to harsh parenting across childhood (ages 3, 5, and 9). Telomere length at age 15 and attrition from ages 9 and 15 are also examined. Results show that optimism, connectedness, and neighborhood collective efficacy are protective for certain minority and male youth. Implications of these findings provide evidence for a need for safer, more cohesive neighborhood environments for Black and male youth, as well as a need for social connection in the form of connectedness for Hispanic youth.