Why Children From Wealthy Families Are Less Stressed, Live Longer

And then used the international Family Affluence Scale (which is the standard for studies as these on child health and well-being) as its criteria for wealth assessment.

The researchers concluded that cortisol, measured through urine, is a marker of cellular stress, indicating psychosocial stress and telomeres, having been analysed through blood and DNA analysis.

They noted that telomeres become shortened not only with age but also by the body releasing hormones like cortisol to respond to stress, which causes "biological wear and tear" on cells.

"For some children, their economic background may put them at a biological disadvantage compared to those who have a better start in life," said Dr. Oliver Robinson, one of the study's authors.

"We must be clear that our study should not be interpreted as showing any link between affluence and any measure of the 'quality' of genes; rather it shows the indirect impact of environment on a known marker for ageing and long-term health," Dr. Robinson added.

Dr. Robinson also clarified that the children studied were not from "families in poverty" and stressed the key pointer: public health policies that allow all children the "best start in.