The Impact of School Social Experiences on Socioemotional and Behavioral Problems: The Hypothesized Role of DNA Methylation

Peer victimization (including physical, verbal, and relational forms of aggression) has a worldwide prevalence rate of nearly 13%, and has been implicated in prior literature and theory as a contributor to children’s behavioral and emotional problems, through stress-related pathways and mechanisms. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms that may account for these effects. In this chapter, we first briefly examine how the neuroendocrine system may be affected by peer victimization. Next, we describe the extent to which epigenetic mechanisms, especially DNA methylation, may be altered by life experiences and could jeopardize later development, a concept referred to as biological embedding. We conclude by outlining key methodological, biological, and statistical limitations constraining the generalization of emerging findings investigating epigenetic mechanisms in peer relationships research.