Is virtue its own reward? Moral identity, empathy, and volunteering during adolescence as predictors of subsequent epigenetic aging

Abstract

Higher levels of moral identity, empathy, and volunteering (virtues) are associated with increased self-esteem and psychological well-being, which, in turn, are predictive of fewer health problems. Epigenetic aging, a marker of health, reflects the rate at which individuals age biologically relative to their chronological age. Epigenetic aging is shaped by behavioral factors and environmental stressors, but the effects of moral identity, empathy, and volunteering on epigenetic aging are underexplored. Thus, this study examined if these three dimensions of virtue predict epigenetic aging during adolescence and if these relationships are mediated by self-esteem and psychological well-being. The sample included 1,213 adolescents (51% female; 62% Black, 34% Non-Hispanic White, 4% Other race/ethnicity) that participated at three time points between 2004 and 2017 (Mage 13, 16, 19 years). Results revealed that higher moral identity and empathy were associated with higher self-esteem and psychological well-being during early adolescence. Moreover, higher empathy during early adolescence was associated with slower epigenetic aging on the GrimAge clock during late adolescence. Path analyses adjusting for covariates showed that higher self-esteem during middle adolescence predicted slower epigenetic aging in late adolescence, but none of the three virtues in early adolescence predicted self-esteem, psychological well-being, or epigenetic aging over time.