The experience of social loss and epigenome-wide DNA methylation
Background - Social loss is associated with mental and physical health problems. Considering known risk and resilience factors, we hypothesized that epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) would be associated with social loss. - Methods - A total of N = 1865 participants aged 50-75 years with epigenom...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
January 2026
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| In: |
Social science & medicine
Year: 2026, Volume: 388, Pages: 1-12 |
| ISSN: | 1873-5347 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118718 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118718 Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953625010494 
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| Author Notes: | Martin Stoffel, Joshua Stevenson-Hoare, Ben Schöttker, Johanna Hammer, Hermann Brenner, Beate Ditzen |
| Summary: | Background - Social loss is associated with mental and physical health problems. Considering known risk and resilience factors, we hypothesized that epigenome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) would be associated with social loss. - Methods - A total of N = 1865 participants aged 50-75 years with epigenome-wide DNAm measurements obtained from whole blood samples were included. Using cross-sectional data, relationship status (married/divorced/widowed) was expected to predict differences in DNAm between married persons and persons who experienced social loss (divorced/widowhood). Additionally, social factors (i.e., the number of close social relationships and household size), the polygenic risk score for depression, a history of depression, and biological sex were considered as moderators. Predicted differences in DNAm were calculated (Δ-beta values). - Results - Without considering moderators, there was only one differentially methylated position (DMP; cg01450896), comparing married and widowed persons (b = 0.098, q = 0.022; Δ-beta = |0.015|). However, there were a variety of DMPs for the comparison between married persons and those who experienced social loss when the moderators were factored in, especially those indicative of social integration and social connectedness. Δ-beta values varied considerably as a function of changes in the moderators. - Conclusions - Changes in DNAm might contribute to the health-related effects of social loss. In line with his, many of the discovered DMPs were associated with health-related traits in previous studies. However, the reported effects were highly dependent on the moderators assessed and specific to divorce and widowhood. The results could provide a first step toward better understanding and treating individuals who experienced social loss. |
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| Item Description: | Online verfügbar: 25. Oktober 2025, Artikelversion: 15. November 2025 Gesehen am 27.01.2026 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1873-5347 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.118718 |