The association between parenting quality and offspring's biological aging evaluated by telomere length: A systematic review and meta-analysis

There is widespread agreement that offspring are shaped by the parenting they receive in early childhood. This development is intertwined with offspring's biological functioning, evidenced by their telomeres length (TL) - a key biomarker of aging. Until recently, most studies have focused on the detrimental implications of negative parenting for offspring's TL. Contemporary research is oriented toward exploring the possible resilience-promoting effect of positive parenting on the biological aging of the offspring. We conducted a meta-analysis synthesizing the findings regarding the association between parenting quality and offspring's TL. It examines whether positive parenting delays aging processes and whether such processes are exacerbated by exposure to negative parenting. An analysis of 15 studies (k = 23; N = 3,599, M _{mean cohort's age} = 15.5, SD = 17.5) revealed a significant association between positive parenting and offspring's longer TL (r =.16, 95% CI [.11,.20]). Negative parenting was associated with an increased risk of TL erosion (r = -.17, 95% CI [-.28, -.06]). Moreover, this negative association became more robust as offspring grew older (β = -.01, p <.001). Future investigations would benefit from probing associations between parental quality and offspring's development. Interventions fostering positive parenting might also scaffold these biological processes.