Cold-parenting may lead to premature ageing in offspring IOLUnsupportive parenting styles may have several negative health implications for children including premature ageing and higher disease risk later in life, says a study. The research found that the telomeres -- protective caps on the ends of the strands of DNA -- of participants who considered their mothers' parenting style as "cold" were on average 25 per cent smaller compared to those who reported having a mother whose parenting style they considered "warm". The research has found that early-life stress is associated with shorter telomeres, a measurable biomarker of accelerated cellular ag...