The buffering effect of social support on the link between biologically embedded childhood maltreatment and adult cardiovascular disease

Introduction

Associations between childhood maltreatment and adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are well-documented. However, previous research has relied on self-rated health and non-representative cross-sectional data, raising questions about the generalizability of the findings. Moreover, less is known about factors that may buffer the biological embedding of early adversity into health outcomes in adulthood.

Objective

This study examines whether childhood maltreatment predicts CVD risk in adulthood using objective biomarkers and whether social support buffers this relationship in line with the stress-buffering hypothesis.

Methods

We analyzed data from 4137 participants in Waves 1, 3, and 5 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health). Childhood maltreatment and social support were measured using validated scales, and 30-year CVD risk was estimated using the Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Score. Fractional outcome models were used to examine the main and moderating effects, and sensitivity analyses using Heckman selection models were conducted to address potential selection bias.

Results

Childhood maltreatment was significantly related to elevated adult CVD risk, supporting the biological embedding model. In line with the stress-buffering hypothesis, social support moderated this association, buffering the adverse health effects of early maltreatment.

Conclusions

Findings support the stress-buffering hypothesis and highlight the importance of early social support in mitigating the long-term physiological impact of childhood adversity. Integrating the biological embedding model with the stress-buffering hypothesis can improve understanding of resilience and inform strategies to reduce health disparities rooted in early life experiences.