Incarceration Exposure, Biological Aging, and Depression Symptoms in an African American Sample of Older Adults

Mark T Berg; Kendall Riley; Man-Kit Lei; Ronald L Simons

doi:10.1177/08982643241257065

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Incarceration Exposure, Biological Aging, and Depression Symptoms in an African American Sample of Older Adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Incarceration Exposure, Biological Aging, and Depression Symptoms in an African American Sample of Older Adults

Mark T Berg, Kendall Riley, Man-Kit Lei and Ronald L Simons

Journal of aging and health, Vol.37(7-8), pp.395-405

08/2025

DOI: 10.1177/08982643241257065

PMID: 38820596

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Abstract

The study draws upon perspectives on life-course stressors and health to assess whether lifetime incarceration exposure is a determinant of biological aging and self-reported depression. Using data from a sample of 460 African American participants (average age= 57) in the Family and Community Health Study, the study examined two epigenetic indices of biological aging, DunedinPoAm and GrimAge, as well as a self-reported measure of depression symptoms. Estimates were derived from multivariate regression models with adjustments for selection on observables and confounding factors. Exposure to incarceration was a significant determinant of accelerated biological aging (GrimAge) and the pace of aging (DunedinPoAm) and depressive symptoms. Among formerly incarcerated older adults, past experiences with the stressors of incarceration predict key biomarkers of physiological deterioration and depressive symptoms. Incarceration contributes to the mental and physical health burden of older adults.

Aging

Mental Health

Stress

incarceration

biomarker

Details

Title: Subtitle: Incarceration Exposure, Biological Aging, and Depression Symptoms in an African American Sample of Older Adults
Creators: Mark T Berg - University of Iowa
Kendall Riley - University of Iowa
Man-Kit Lei - University of Georgia
Ronald L Simons - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of aging and health, Vol.37(7-8), pp.395-405
DOI: 10.1177/08982643241257065
PMID: 38820596
NLM abbreviation: J Aging Health
eISSN: 1552-6887
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 05/31/2024
Date published: 08/2025
Academic Unit: Sociology and Criminology; Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Public Policy Center (Archive)
Record Identifier: 9984634945402771

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