Research findings

According to a study by the University of Folk, children who experience severe abuse show accelerated biological aging at the cellular level and avoid eye contact during social interactions.

The study shows that child abuse makes measurable molecular characteristics useful for lifelong health problems and social difficulties.

Using advanced DNA methylation analysis, the researchers compared 36 children aged 4-5 years old with 60 typical development peers to measure biological aging. Abused children showed significantly faster cellular aging and spent less time looking at the eyes during face-to-face interactions.

DNA reveals hidden aging processes

The study used a cutting-edge technique called the Pediatric-Gross Plant Clock to analyze DNA methylation patterns in cheek swab samples. The molecular analysis shows that cells that abuse children age faster than their age.

All child abuse in the study experienced severe abuse or neglect, which abuse or neglect interventions in child protection services, thus distinguishing this study from studies that rely on self-reported trauma scores. The children have been legally evacuated from their biological parents and placed in residential care facilities.

DNA methylation analysis examined 94 specific sites of 65 genes, resulting in biological characteristics that accelerated aging. In early childhood, even modest differences in cellular aging can lead to premature adolescence and other developmental challenges in late development.

Social behavior change

Using eye tracking technology, researchers found that child abuse spent significantly less time in video demonstrations of human faces. This reduced eye contact suggests fundamental differences in how these children process social information.

This striking study measures children’s gaze patterns in various social scenarios, including facial expressions, people interacting with geometric patterns, biological movements and pointing gestures. Only during face-to-face interactions did the abused child show significantly different viewing patterns.

The main findings of social behavior analysis include:

• Abusive children look at the eyes, mouth and other facial areas significantly less than typical children
• Reduced eye contact is associated with higher scores in behavioral and emotional difficulty assessments
• Children exposed to multiple types of abuse show greater socioemotional problems
• Accelerating aging and reduced eye contact independently predict behavioral difficulties

Independent problem path

Surprisingly, the study showed that accelerated biological aging and reduced eye contact seemed to contribute independently to behavioral and emotional difficulties rather than working through a single pathway.

“Our research conveys a strong message: child abuse can leave invisible but measurable markers on the biological and social development of children. By identifying these early warning signals, we can step in earlier and provide targeted support,” stressed graduate student Keiko Ochiai.

Both biomarkers were found to be associated with scores in the Improved Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire, a standardized assessment of children’s behavioral and emotional problems. However, statistical analysis shows that these factors operate through separate mechanisms rather than causing another mechanism to operate.

Clinical significance

Research shows that objective biological and behavioral measurements can identify high-risk children more effectively than current methods alone. The findings point to potential early intervention strategies that address both the biological and social aspects of the effects of abuse.

“Tools such as eye assessments and stress-related biological tests can help teachers, doctors and caregivers accelerate the identification of children at risk,” Ochiai notes. “Support programs can then be tailored to improve social skills, reduce emotional stress and promote healthier development.”

The focus of the study is on very ages 4-5 years, which is particularly important because it shows that the abuse effect can be found in the early stages of development where the intervention is most effective.

The direction of the future

The study opens new avenues to understand how early trauma affects development at multiple levels. The findings of bioaging suggest that child abuse may contribute to well-documented links between early trauma and adult health problems, including chronic illness and premature death.

Reduced eye contact findings are consistent with broader research on attachment and social development, suggesting that abuse undermines the fundamental social learning process that relies on face-to-face interactions.

Although the study established important relevance, the researchers stressed the need for longitudinal studies to establish causality and track how these early markers develop. Nevertheless, these findings provide concrete goals for intervening and supporting the social and biological trajectory of child abuse to develop health.

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