Not at all. Check out Epigenetics at Wiki.
Thank you. The article says “changes to their DNA”, which is not epigenetics, strictly speaking. The change described does seem to be within that realm, though, being a change in the celluar environment related to DNA expression. It’s still hard to believe that high level interpretations of sensory experience, such as “abuse”, could lead to such deep chemical alterations at the celluar level.
When the researchers produced a correlation between birth order and homosexuality in males, they were definitely tapping into methylation.
This finding on stress is not at all surprising.
Given that methylation is inheritable it's possible that there's some process we'll eventually discover that "converts" these exterinal, or epigenitic changes, into modifications to the genes themselves creating entirely new alleles.
Guys studying this stuff have to be pole vaulting all over the lab these days.