Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40445999›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Behavioral and emotional difficulties in maltreated children: Associations with epigenetic clock changes and visual attention to social cues.

Keiko Ochiai, Shota Nishitani, Akiko Yao, Daiki Hiraoka, Natasha Y S Kawata, Shizuka Suzuki, Takashi X Fujisawa, Akemi Tomoda

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Keiko OchiaiDivision of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
Shota NishitaniDivision of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-6234-295X
Akiko YaoResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
Daiki HiraokaResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
Natasha Y S KawataResearch Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
Shizuka SuzukiDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan.
Takashi X FujisawaDivision of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
Akemi TomodaDivision of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University, and University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-6558-5017

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Research indicates that childhood maltreatment leads to adverse outcomes later in life and accelerated aging. However, few studies have investigated how age acceleration manifests during childhood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of child maltreatment on DNA methylation age (mAge) acceleration using a case-control study design and its association with visual attention and behavioral and emotional outcomes in maltreated children (CM). We hypothesized that CM experience atypical aging, which adversely affects their behavioral and emotional outcomes by disrupting the cognitive development necessary for forming interpersonal relationships. The study included 36 CM and 60 typically developing (TD) children with an average age of 4-5 years. We compared their DNA mAge acceleration, measured through buccal DNA samples. Additionally, we conducted a behavioral assessment of their cognitive functions related to interpersonal interactions, using an eye-tracking system to measure their gaze points at various social stimuli. Behavioral and emotional outcomes were evaluated using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The results showed that CM exhibited significantly higher mAge acceleration and spent significantly less time gazing at the eye region during facial expression presentations. While a significant association between these attributes was observed, a comprehensive path analysis revealed that each attribute independently correlated with higher SDQ scores, suggesting that child maltreatment leads to these difficulties through accelerated aging and decreased eye contact. This study provides significant insights into how child maltreatment impacts children's development. It demonstrates that mAge acceleration and reduced attention to the eye region are critical factors associated with the adverse behavioral and emotional outcomes observed in maltreated children. These findings highlight the importance of early intervention and support for maltreated children to mitigate the long-term effects of accelerated aging and social cognitive deficits.

Indexed as

AttentionChild AbuseEmotionsEpigenesis, GeneticCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolCuesDNA MethylationFemaleHumansMale

Identifiers

PMID40445999
PMCPMC12124526

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.