Relationship intervention moderates the association between substance use and biological aging among Black adults

Danielle M Weber; Justin A Lavner; Sierra Carter; Mei-Ling Ong; Man-Kit Lei; Robert Philibert; Steven R H Beach

doi:10.1037/hea0001495

Back

Relationship intervention moderates the association between substance use and biological aging among Black adults

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Relationship intervention moderates the association between substance use and biological aging among Black adults

Danielle M Weber, Justin A Lavner, Sierra Carter, Mei-Ling Ong, Man-Kit Lei, Robert Philibert and Steven R H Beach

Health psychology, Vol.44(9), pp.844-853

09/2025

DOI: 10.1037/hea0001495

PMCID: PMC12353662

PMID: 40167560

View Online

Abstract

Black Americans face disproportionate challenges related to substance use and the health impacts of substance use, including accelerated aging. Accordingly, interventions are needed to protect against the harmful effects of substance use on accelerated aging. The present study examined whether the Protecting Strong African American Families (ProSAAF) intervention, a relationship education program designed to promote strong relationships among Black families, moderated the association between substance use and accelerated aging among Black couples. Black couples received either the ProSAAF intervention or a minimal-touch control intervention and provided deoxyribonucleic acid specimens for methylation-based biomarker measurements of alcohol use and cigarette smoking (Alcohol T scores and cg05575921, combined into a substance use composite) and accelerated aging (DNAm GrimAge) 6- and 9 years postintervention. Participants receiving the ProSAAF intervention (relative to the control condition) experienced a significantly weaker association between substance use and accelerated aging. Among the participants who were in the same relationship as when they were initially randomized, the association between substance use and aging was significantly weaker in the ProSAAF condition than in the control condition for participants with lower relationship satisfaction preintervention; no differences emerged among those with higher satisfaction. ProSAAF mitigated some of the harmful effects of substance use on accelerated aging among Black couples, particularly among those with lower preintervention relationship satisfaction. These findings highlight the potential for relationship interventions to serve as sources of constructed resilience that promote healthier aging. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Black Americans

relationship intervention

substance use

accelerated aging

constructed resilience

Details

Title: Subtitle: Relationship intervention moderates the association between substance use and biological aging among Black adults
Creators: Danielle M Weber - University of Georgia
Justin A Lavner - University of Georgia
Sierra Carter - Georgia State University
Mei-Ling Ong - University of Georgia
Man-Kit Lei - University of Georgia
Robert Philibert - Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa
Steven R H Beach - University of Georgia
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Health psychology, Vol.44(9), pp.844-853
DOI: 10.1037/hea0001495
PMID: 40167560
PMCID: PMC12353662
NLM abbreviation: Health Psychol
ISSN: 0278-6133
eISSN: 1930-7810
Publisher: AMER PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
Grant note: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development NIA NIH HHS NIDA NIH HHS
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 03/31/2025
Date published: 09/2025
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Psychiatry; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984804799102771

Metrics

4 Record Views

See more details