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Terry EL, Meng L, Huo Z, Bartley EJ. Examining Reactivity and Recovery Patterns of Pain-Evoked Cortisol and Alpha-Amylase Trajectories: Relations Between Psychological Markers of Risk and Resilience. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:104464. [PMID: 38246254 PMCID: PMC11128348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is one of the leading causes of disability globally and represents an enormous burden to aging adults. While numerous factors contribute to cLBP, dysregulation in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system functioning have been implicated in its pathogenesis. It is well documented that negative psychological states can modulate biological stress responsivity in chronic pain; however, little is known regarding the influence of positive psychological factors in this relationship. The aim of this study was to examine the association between psychological risk and resilience factors with patterns of physiological stress reactivity and recovery in 60 older adults with cLBP. Participants completed measures of hope, optimism, pain catastrophizing, and perceived stress, and underwent psychophysical pain testing assessing responses to painful pressure, heat, and cold stimuli. Salivary samples were obtained prior to pain induction and at 7 time points spanning 90 minutes after pain testing terminated. To examine reactivity and recovery profiles in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system function, samples were assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase, respectively. Results revealed higher levels of hope and optimism were associated with increased cortisol reactivity (p's < .003) and more rapid recovery (p's = .001). Further, pain catastrophizing and perceived stress were associated with cortisol reactivity, with lower levels of these factors predicting larger increases in cortisol from baseline to peak levels (p's < .04). No significant differences in reactivity or recovery patterns emerged for alpha-amylase. Overall, findings highlight the role of psychological risk and resilience factors in modulating physiological stress reactivity. PERSPECTIVE: This article investigated whether psychosocial risk and resilience factors were associated with stress reactivity and recovery in response to laboratory-based pain testing in older adults with chronic low back pain. Results indicate that high resilience factors may be protective by modulating adrenocortical reactivity and recovery profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen L. Terry
- University of Florida, Biobehavioral Nursing Science
- University of Florida, Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE)
| | | | - Zhiguang Huo
- University of Florida, Department of Biostatistics
| | - Emily J. Bartley
- University of Florida, Pain Research and Intervention Center of Excellence (PRICE)
- University of Florida, Community Dentistry and Behavioral Science
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Yilmaz Y, Uçar C, Yildiz S. Activities of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system following a strong earthquake. Stress Health 2024; 40:e3281. [PMID: 37291076 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of post-traumatic stress, caused by a strong earthquake, on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and autonomous nervous system activity (ANS). Activities of the HPA (as salivary cortisol) and ANS (as heart-rate variability [HRV]) were measured following the 2020 Elazig (Türkiye) earthquake (6.8 Richter Scale, classified as strong). A total of 227 participants (103 men (45%) and 124 women (%55)) provided saliva samples twice, namely, 1 week and 6 weeks after the earthquake. Of these participants, HRV was measured in 51 participants by 5 min continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) recording. Frequency- and time-domain parameters of the HRV were calculated to assess the activity of ANS and low/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio was used as surrogate for sympathovagal balance. Salivary cortisol levels decreased from week 1 towards week 6 (17.40 ± 1.48 and 15.32 ± 1.37 ng/mL, respectively, p < 0.05). There were no gender differences (17.99 ± 2.63 and 16.90 ± 1.60 ng/mL, respectively for females and males, p > 0.05) for salivary cortisol levels. There were no differences in time- and frequency domain parameters of the HRV including LF/HF ratio (2.95 ± 0.38 ms2 and 3.60 ± 0.70 ms2 , respectively for week 1 and 6, p > 0.05). The data show that HPA axis activity, but not that of the ANS, remains higher 1 week after the earthquake but decreases afterwards towards the sixth week, suggesting that the HPA axis might be responsible for the long-term effects of a traumatic event like a strong earthquake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yücehan Yilmaz
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Inonu, Malatya, Türkiye
| | - Cihat Uçar
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Malatya Turgut Ozal University, Battalgazi, Türkiye
| | - Sedat Yildiz
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Inonu, Malatya, Türkiye
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Park GR, Kim J. The gendered health consequences of persistent exposure to short sleep duration during adolescence. J Adolesc 2023; 95:1311-1320. [PMID: 37308460 DOI: 10.1002/jad.12203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite evidence that sleep duration is associated with adolescent health, there remain several gaps in the literature. Little is known about: (1) the extent to which persistent exposure to short sleep duration is associated with adolescent health and (2) whether this association varies by gender. METHODS Using six waves of longitudinal data from the 2011-2016 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (N = 6147), this study examined whether persistent exposure to short sleep duration is related to two adolescent health outcomes (overweight status and self-rated health). Fixed effects models were estimated to account for individual-level heterogeneity. RESULTS Short sleep duration was associated with being overweight and self-rated health in different ways for boys and girls. Gender-stratified analysis suggests that, for girls, the risk of being overweight increased for 5 years in a row as short sleep duration persisted. Prolonged short sleep duration also resulted in a continued decline in girls' self-rated health. For boys, persistent exposure to short sleep duration predicted a lower likelihood of being overweight up to the fourth year, but then began to recover. No association between persistent exposure to short sleep duration and self-rated health was observed for boys. CONCLUSION Persistent exposure to short sleep duration was found to be more harmful to the health of girls than boys. Promoting longer sleep duration during adolescence may be an effective intervention to improve adolescent health, especially for girls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gum-Ryeong Park
- Department of Health, Aging, & Society, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jinho Kim
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Demography of Health and Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Lehrke J, Lauff S, Mücher J, Friedrich MG, Boos M. Effects of the Noise Reduction and Communication Management Headset System SLOS on Noise and Stress of Medical Laboratory Workers. Lab Med 2023; 54:e161-e169. [PMID: 37218381 DOI: 10.1093/labmed/lmad033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of the Silent Laboratory Optimization System (SLOS), a technical-noise reduction and communication-management system, on noise load and stress among medical-laboratory workers. METHODS We conducted a quasiexperimental field study (20 days with SLOS as the experimental condition, and 20 days without SLOS as the control condition) in a within-subjects design. Survey data from 13 workers were collected before and after the shift. Also, a survey was conducted after the control and experimental conditions, respectively. Noise was measured in dBA and as a subjective assessment. Stress was operationalized via a stress composite score (STAI and Perkhofer Stress Scale), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), an exhaustion score (Leipziger StimmungsBogen in German [LSB]), and salivary cortisol values in µg/L. RESULTS SLOS users perceived significantly less noise (V = 76.5; P =.003). Multilevel models revealed a stress reduction with the SLOS on the composite score, compared with a stress increase in the control condition (F[1, 506.99] = 6.00; P = .01). A lower PSS score (F[1,13] = 4.67; P = .05) and a lower exhaustion level (F[1, 508.72] = 9.057; P = .003) in the experimental condition were found, whereas no differences in cortisol (F[1,812.58.6] = 0.093; P = .76) were revealed. CONCLUSION The workers showed reduced noise perception and stress across all criteria except cortisol when using SLOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Lehrke
- Georg-Elias-Mueller-Institute of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sören Lauff
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Jan Mücher
- Georg-Elias-Mueller-Institute of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Martin G Friedrich
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Centre Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Margarete Boos
- Georg-Elias-Mueller-Institute of Psychology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
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Rao A, Zecchin R, Newton PJ, Read SA, Phillips JL, DiGiacomo M, Chang S, Denniss AR, Hickman LD. Feasibility of Integrating MEditatioN inTO heaRt Disease (the MENTOR Study): A Phase II Randomized Controlled Trial. J Cardiovasc Nurs 2023; 38:492-510. [PMID: 37249544 DOI: 10.1097/jcn.0000000000000997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Comorbid depression and/or anxiety symptoms occur in 25% of patients attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs and are associated with poorer prognosis. There is a need to evaluate psychological interventions, including meditation, that have potential to improve psychological health in CR programs. AIMS The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of integrating a meditation intervention into an existing Australian CR program for the reduction of depression and anxiety symptoms. METHODS This was a mixed-methods feasibility randomized controlled trial. Thirty-one patients with CVD and, at a minimum, mild depression and/or anxiety symptoms were randomized to meditation and standard CR or to standard CR alone. A 16-minute guided group meditation was delivered face-to-face once a week for 6 weeks, with daily self-guided meditation practice between sessions. Feasibility outcomes included screening, recruitment, and retention. Semistructured interviews of patients' (n = 10) and health professionals' (n = 18) perspectives of intervention participation and delivery were undertaken to assess acceptability. Between-group differences in depression, anxiety, stress, self-efficacy for mindfulness, and health status at 6 and 12 weeks were also assessed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Meditation was considered feasible, with 83% (12/15) of the intervention group completing an average of 3.13 (SD, 2.56) out of 6 group meditation sessions and 5.28 (SD, 8.50) self-guided sessions. Meditation was considered acceptable by patients, clinicians, and health managers. Between-group differences in the number of CR sessions completed favored the intervention group in per-protocol analyses (intervention group vs control group, 12 vs 9 sessions; P = .014), which suggests that meditation may be useful to improve patients' adherence to exercise-based CR program.
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Real-World Intake of Dietary Sugars Is Associated with Reduced Cortisol Reactivity Following an Acute Physiological Stressor. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15010209. [PMID: 36615866 PMCID: PMC9823716 DOI: 10.3390/nu15010209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing academic and clinical interest in understanding the nature of the relation between diet and response to stress exposure as a risk factor for mental illness. Cross-species evidence shows that conditions of chronic and acute stress increase the intake of, and preference for, caloric-dense palatable foods, a phenomenon thought to be explained by the mitigating effects of comfort foods on the activity of the stress-response network. It is largely unknown whether and how real-world dietary intake of saturated fat and sugars impacts stress responsivity in humans. Therefore, here we examined whether real-world dietary intake of saturated fat and sugars predicted salivary cortisol reactivity following an acute physiological stressor. Multilevel modelling of four salivary cortisol measures collected up to 65 min after the stressor on 54 participants (18-49 years old) were analyzed using a quadratic growth curve model. Sugar intake significantly predicted a weaker cortisol response following the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) controlling for BMI and gender, revealing an inhibitory effect of caloric-dense diets on cortisol reactivity to stress. As the consumption of sugar rose individuals had lower post-stressor cortisol levels, a smaller rate of increase in cortisol 20 and 35 min after the CPT, a lower cortisol peak, and an overall weaker quadratic effect. These observations add to a growing body of evidence reporting suppressive effects of high-energy foods on stress-associated glucocorticoids reactivity and are consistent with the comfort food hypothesis, where people are seen as motivated to eat palatable foods to alleviate the detrimental repercussions of stressor exposure.
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Karl S, Johar H, Ladwig KH, Peters A, Lederbogen F. Dysregulated diurnal cortisol patterns are associated with cardiovascular mortality: Findings from the KORA-F3 study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 141:105753. [PMID: 35395560 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress has been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and death. Dysregulated diurnal cortisol slopes, which have also been associated with stress, might mediate this association. However, existing evidence on the cardiovascular health consequences of dysregulated cortisol slopes remains limited and inconclusive. To elucidate whether dysregulated diurnal cortisol slopes are related to cardiovascular mortality, we assessed salivary cortisol and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in 1090 participants from the KORA-F3 study, a prospective, observational cohort study of a random representative sample from the general population. Eighty-seven deaths were registered during the mean follow-up period of approximately 11 years, 31 of which were classified as cardiovascular deaths. A more pronounced cortisol awakening response was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular mortality in the adjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis (HR 0.59 [95-%-CI 0.36-0.96], p = 0.03). A greater diurnal cortisol peak-to-bedtime ratio at baseline also predicted a decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.50 [95-%-CI 0.34-0.73], p 0.01) and a decreased risk of stroke (HR 0.71 [95-%-CI 0.55-0.92], p 0.01). Increased levels of late night salivary cortisol predicted a higher risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.49 [95-%-CI 1.13-1.97], p 0.01) and an increased risk of stroke (HR 1.24 [95-%-CI 1.01-1.52], p = 0.04). There was no association between measures of cortisol and non-cardiovascular related mortality. In conclusion, dysregulated diurnal cortisol patterns are associated with cardiovascular mortality, while greater diurnal cortisol variation seems to have a protective effect. This adds evidence to suggest a pathophysiological role of diurnal cortisol secretion patterns in cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Karl
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg / Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Hamimatunnisa Johar
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Gießen and Marburg, Gießen, Germany; Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Ladwig
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK e.V.), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Annette Peters
- Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK e.V.), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany; Chair of Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Lederbogen
- Central Institute of Mental Health, University of Heidelberg / Medical Faculty Mannheim, J5, 68159 Mannheim, Germany
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Can dogs reduce stress levels in school children? effects of dog-assisted interventions on salivary cortisol in children with and without special educational needs using randomized controlled trials. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269333. [PMID: 35704561 PMCID: PMC9200172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Prolonged or excessive stress negatively affects learning, behavior and health across the lifespan. To alleviate adverse effects of stress in school children, stressors should be reduced, and support and effective interventions provided. Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have shown beneficial effects on health and wellbeing, however, robust knowledge on stress mediation in children is lacking. Despite this, AAIs are increasingly employed in settings world-wide, including schools, to reduce stress and support learning and wellbeing. This study is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate dog-assisted interventions as a mediator of stress in school children with and without special educational needs (SEN) over the school term. Interventions were carried out individually and in small groups twice a week for 20 minutes over the course of 4 weeks. We compared physiological changes in salivary cortisol in a dog intervention group with a relaxation intervention group and a no treatment control group. We compared cortisol level means before and after the 4 weeks of interventions in all children as well as acute cortisol in mainstream school children. Dog interventions lead to significantly lower stress in children with and without special educational needs compared to their peers in relaxation or no treatment control groups. In neurotypical children, those in the dog interventions showed no baseline stress level increases over the school term. In addition, acute cortisol levels evidenced significant stress reduction following the interventions. In contrast, the no treatment control group showed significant rises in baseline cortisol levels from beginning to end of school term. Increases also occurred in the relaxation intervention group. Children with SEN showed significantly decreased cortisol levels after dog group interventions. No changes occurred in the relaxation or no treatment control groups. These findings provide crucial evidence that dog interventions can successfully attenuate stress levels in school children with important implications for AAI implementation, learning and wellbeing.
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Ruffing KM, Koltun KJ, De Souza MJ, Williams NI. Moderate Weight Loss is associated with Reductions in LH Pulse Frequency and Increases in 24-hour Cortisol with no change in Perceived Stress in Young Ovulatory Women. Physiol Behav 2022; 254:113885. [PMID: 35718216 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Determine the potential role of cortisol as an indicator of both metabolic and psychosocial stress and its relation to LH pulse dynamics during a three-month diet and exercise intervention causing moderate weight loss. METHODS Secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled trial that demonstrated the causal role of low energy availability in the disruption of the menstrual cycle. Twenty-one women aged (18-24 yrs), BMI (21.7± 1.9 kg·m-2), completed a baseline menstrual cycle and three intervention menstrual cycles of a controlled diet and supervised exercise program. Twenty-four-hour LH pulse dynamics (q10 min) and diurnal patterns of cortisol (q60 min) as well as Perceived Stress Scale scores were determined in the early follicular phase prior to the intervention and in the post intervention cycle. Pre to post comparisons were determined with paired t-tests, and Pearson bivariate correlations assessed associations. RESULTS Subjects lost weight (-2.8±1.97 kg) and LH pulse frequency declined pre=0.79±0.23 pulses·hr-1 to post=0.60±0.29 pulses·hr-1 (p=0.014). Weight loss was associated with an increase in cortisol AUC R=-0.473, (p=0.03) and the decline in LH pulse frequency R= 0.523; (p=0.026). Increases in cortisol AUC were associated with declines in LH pulse frequency R=-0.472; (p=0.048). The morning cortisol rise AUC increased from pre=2140±878 µg·dL-1 · day to post=2556±1067 µg·dL-1 · day (p=0.034). Changes in PSS were not associated with changes in LH or cortisol. CONCLUSION The initial perturbation of LH pulsatility with moderate diet and exercise is associated with metabolically driven increases in cortisol AUC with no influence of psychological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristen J Koltun
- Women's Health and Exercise Laboratory, Room 109 Noll Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Mary Jane De Souza
- Professor of Kinesiology and Physiology, Director, Women's Health and Exercise Laboratory, Room 104 Noll Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Nancy I Williams
- Professor and Head, Department of Kinesiology, Co-Director, Women's Health and Exercise Laboratory, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Sadowski A, Wexler RS, Hanes D, Buttolph L, Torrens T, Moehle J, Sarrar H, Harnett J, Zava DT, Bradley R. Meditative practices, stress and sleep among students studying complementary and integrative health: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC Complement Med Ther 2022; 22:127. [PMID: 35513823 PMCID: PMC9070612 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03582-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The International Cohort on Lifestyle Determinants of Health (INCLD Health) is an ongoing, prospective cohort study assessing the health behaviours and lifestyles of higher education students, including their use of specialty diets and complementary and integrative health (CIH) practices. Purpose: This cross-sectional analysis of the INCLD Health cohort aims to (1) evaluate the associations between perceived stress, sleep disturbance, and meditative practices with diurnal salivary free cortisol and (2) evaluate the associations of meditative practices as well as mind-body practices with perceived stress and sleep disturbance. Methods Serial multivariable linear regression models, adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle behaviours, were used to assess associations of (1) perceived stress, sleep disturbance, and meditative practices with salivary cortisol, and (2) meditative practices as well as mind-body practices with perceived stress and sleep disturbance. Meditative and mind-body practices were evaluated using a stress-management and self-care survey; perceived stress and sleep disturbance were evaluated using the 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the patient reported outcome measures information system-29 (PROMIS-29) sleep sub-score respectively. Salivary cortisol was collected at 4 time points over a 24-hour period and area under the curve (AUC) calculations conducted. Results 82.5% (n = 80) of participants utilized at least monthly meditative practices. Greater disturbed sleep, but not perceived-stress, meditative, nor mind-body practices was independently associated with increased AUC cortisol (b = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.002–0.05, p = 0.03) after adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and BMI. Neither meditative nor mind-body practices were associated with perceived stress or disturbed sleep. Conclusions Among INCLD Health participants, greater sleep disturbance, but not perceived stress or meditative practices were associated with daytime cortisol. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-022-03582-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Sadowski
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA.
| | - Ryan S Wexler
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Douglas Hanes
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Lita Buttolph
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tediana Torrens
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jillian Moehle
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Hadil Sarrar
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Joanna Harnett
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Ryan Bradley
- Helfgott Research Institute, National University of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, University of California, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
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Silverstein-Metzler MG, Frye BM, Justice JN, Clarkson TB, Appt SE, Jeffrey Carr J, Register TC, Albu-Shamah M, Shaltout HA, Shively CA. Psychosocial stress increases risk for type 2 diabetes in female cynomolgus macaques consuming a western diet. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 139:105706. [PMID: 35259592 PMCID: PMC8977247 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2021] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Chronic psychosocial stress is associated with increased risk of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between stress and diabetes in human studies because stressors often are self-reported and may be distant in time from metabolic consequences. Macaques are useful models of the effects of chronic psychosocial stress on health and may develop obesity and diabetes similar to human beings. Thus, we studied the relationships between social subordination stress - a well-validated psychological stressor in macaques - and body composition and carbohydrate metabolism in socially housed, middle-aged female cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis; n = 42). Following an 8-week baseline phase, the monkeys were fed a Western diet for 36 months (about equivalent to 10 human years). Social status was determined based on the outcomes of agonistic interactions (X¯= 33.3 observation hours/monkey). Phenotypes collected included plasma cortisol, body composition, circulating markers of glucose metabolism, activity levels, and heart rate variability measured as RMSSD (root of mean square of successive differences) and SDDN (standard deviation of beat to beat interval) after 1.5- and 3-years on diet. Mixed model analyses of variance revealed that aggression received, submissions sent, and cortisol were higher, and RMSSD and SDNN were lower in subordinates than dominants (social status: p < 0.05). After 3 years of Western diet consumption, fasting triglyceride, glucose and insulin concentrations, calculated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), body weight and body fat mass increased in all animals (time: all p's < 0.05); however, the increase in fasting glucose and HOMA-IR was significantly greater in subordinates than dominants (time x social status: p's < 0.05). Impaired glucose metabolism, (glucose > 100 mg/dl) incidence was significantly higher in subordinates (23%) than dominants (0%) (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that chronic psychosocial stress, on a Western diet background, significantly increases type 2 diabetes risk in middle-aged female primates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett M Frye
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Jamie N Justice
- Internal Medicine/Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Thomas B Clarkson
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Susan E Appt
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - J Jeffrey Carr
- Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, USA
| | - Thomas C Register
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Mays Albu-Shamah
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Hossam A Shaltout
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA
| | - Carol A Shively
- Department of Pathology/Comparative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, USA.
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Park M, Jang J, Joo HJ, Kim GR, Park EC. Association Between Unequal Division of Caregiving Work and South Korean Married Women's Depressive Symptoms. Front Public Health 2022; 10:739477. [PMID: 35425757 PMCID: PMC9002231 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.739477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: A disproportionate amount of family caregiving can negatively impact married women's mental health. This study aims to examine the relationship between depressive symptoms in South Korean women and the satisfaction with their husband's participation in family caregiving. Methods Raw data from 1,515 of the participants in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 Korean Longitudinal Survey of Women and Families were analyzed. Satisfaction with husbands' participation in family caregiving was classified as satisfied, less satisfied, and not satisfied. The survey used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale to measure depressive symptoms. The association was examined using a generalized estimating equations model. Results Results indicated 22.2% of the participating women reported depressive symptoms. Women who reported dissatisfaction with their husband's participation in caregiving were 2.54 times more likely to report depressive symptoms than the women who were satisfied. Subgroup analysis indicated that women with higher levels of education, were more likely to have depressive symptoms when they were not satisfied with their husbands' participation in caregiving. Conclusion Married women who reported being dissatisfied with their husbands' participation in caregiving were more likely to report depressive symptoms. These results suggest the need to create environments with fair distribution of caregiving duties to minimize depressive symptoms in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minah Park
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jieun Jang
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Hospital Administration, Yonsei University Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Jin Joo
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Gyu Ri Kim
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Eun-Cheol Park
- Institute of Health Services Research, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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13
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Abstract
Soraya Seedat and Marta Rondon examine how gender inequities in the time allocated to unpaid work, exacerbated by covid-19, are affecting women’s mental health
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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14
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Gómez IF, Rosende VC, Alejandro Juárez RP. [Salivary cortisol concentrations according to gender in the different stages of human development. A review of the literature]. REVISTA CIENTÍFICA ODONTOLÓGICA 2021; 9:e074. [PMID: 38464851 PMCID: PMC10919834 DOI: 10.21142/2523-2754-0903-2021-074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Salivary cortisol secretion (Corts) is an individual adaptation reflex to internal / external stressors, which involves several biological and social factors. The aim of this study was to perform a review on variations in Corts concentrations in relation to biological differences of sex and gender socialization in the different stages of human development. MEDLINE / PubMed and Google Scholar were used to search for scientific evidence. 20 original English-language articles published from 2010-2020 were selected, including clinical trials and observational studies. The relationship between Corts and gender was historically discussed considering evolutionary and biological aspects. However, it cannot be explained as a cause-effect view and depends on unique sociocultural factors, which in sensitive periods of human development alter the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and condition coping with stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Francisco Gómez
- Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Corrientes, Argentina. , , Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico Facultad de Odontología Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
| | - Virginia Cecilia Rosende
- Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Corrientes, Argentina. , , Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico Facultad de Odontología Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
| | - Rolando Pablo Alejandro Juárez
- Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Corrientes, Argentina. , , Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Grupo de Investigación y Desarrollo: Saliva como Fluido Diagnóstico Facultad de Odontología Universidad Nacional del Nordeste Corrientes Argentina
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15
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Knight EL, Jiang Y, Rodriguez-Stanley J, Almeida DM, Engeland CG, Zilioli S. Perceived stress is linked to heightened biomarkers of inflammation via diurnal cortisol in a national sample of adults. Brain Behav Immun 2021; 93:206-213. [PMID: 33515741 PMCID: PMC8274563 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to and perceptions of stress have been associated with altered systemic inflammation, but the intermediate processes by which stress links to inflammation are not fully understood. Diurnal cortisol slopes were examined as a pathway by which self-reported psychosocial stress is associated with inflammation [i.e., C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), fibrinogen, E-Selectin, and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1)] in a large sample of adults (the Midlife in the US study; N = 914; 55.9% female; aged 34-84 years). Structural equation modeling indicated that perceived psychological stress was associated with flattened diurnal cortisol slopes and flatter diurnal cortisol slopes were, in turn, associated with heightened inflammation in these cross-sectional analyses (index of indirect pathway, ω = 0.003, 95% CI [0.001, 0.004], ωSTD = 0.027; with covariates, ω = 0.001, [0.0002, 0.002], ωSTD = 0.011). A similar indirect effect was evident for self-reported traumatic life events (ω = 0.007, [0.004, 0.012], ωSTD = 0.030); however, inclusion of covariates (i.e., age, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index, and other factors associated with physical health) accounted for this finding (ω = 0.001, [-0.001, 0.004], ωSTD = 0.005). These results support an allostatic load model of psychosomatic health, in which cortisol (along with other stress-responsive signaling molecules) is a necessary component for understanding links between stress exposure, perceived stress, and immune functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik L Knight
- Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado, Boulder, United States.
| | - Yanping Jiang
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, United States
| | | | - David M Almeida
- Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States; Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Christopher G Engeland
- Center for Healthy Aging, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States; Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States; College of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, United States
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, United States; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, United States.
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16
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Park WS, Kim S, Kim H. Gender Difference in the Effect of Short Sleep Time on Suicide among Korean Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16183285. [PMID: 31500186 PMCID: PMC6766069 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
A close association between the duration of sleep and suicide has been reported in previous studies. This study was designed to investigate whether there is a difference in the effects of sleep duration on suicide by gender. This study was conducted based on the results of a volunteer online survey for adolescents in middle and high school in the Republic of Korea. The results showed that the effect of a depressive mood on short sleep time and on suicide was not different between male and female adolescents. It has been reported that the direct effect of short sleep time on increasing suicidal ideation is 2.50 times higher in female than in male adolescents. Differences in the metabolism of sex hormones and sleep-associated neurotransmitters might have affected this result, but further studies are needed to clarify more obvious mechanisms. In addition, this result should be considered when establishing sleep education for adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woong-Sub Park
- Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, Gangwon 25601, Korea
| | - SangA Kim
- Department of Social Welfare, Dong Seoul University, Gyenggi 13117, Korea
| | - Hyeyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University, International St. Mary's Hospital, Incheon 22711, Korea.
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17
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Engert V, Kok BE, Puhlmann LMC, Stalder T, Kirschbaum C, Apostolakou F, Papanastasopoulou C, Papassotiriou I, Pervanidou P, Chrousos GP, Singer T. Exploring the multidimensional complex systems structure of the stress response and its relation to health and sleep outcomes. Brain Behav Immun 2018; 73:390-402. [PMID: 29885438 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Revised: 05/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain a comprehensive understanding of the multidimensional complex systems structure of the stress response and related health outcomes, we utilized network analysis in a sample of 328 healthy participants in two steps. In a first step, we focused on associations between measures of basal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning and subjective stress perceptions. In a second step, we linked these diverse stress-related measures to biomarkers and self-reports of health and sleep. Overall, measures clustered depending on their method of assessment, with high correlations between different saliva-based indices of diurnal cortisol regulation, between cortisol and cortisone levels in hair, between different biological health indicators (systemic inflammatory activity and body mass index), between state (experience sampling) and trait (questionnaire-based) self-reports of stress and wellbeing, and between different self-reports of sleep. Bridges between clusters suggested that if individuals perceive stress throughout their daily lives this is reflected in their total salivary cortisol output possibly contributing to long-term cortisol accumulation in hair. Likewise, earlier awakening time may contribute to cortisol accumulation in hair via an influence on awakening cortisol processes. Our results show that while meaningful connections between measures exist, stress is a highly complex construct composed of numerous aspects. We argue that network analysis is an integrative statistical approach to address the multidimensionality of the stress response and its effects on the brain and body. This may help uncover pathways to stress-related disease and serve to identify starting points for prevention and therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Engert
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Bethany E Kok
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lara M C Puhlmann
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Institute of Biological Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Filia Apostolakou
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Papassotiriou
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Tania Singer
- Department of Social Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
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18
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Kwan RYC, Leung MCP, Lai CKY. A Randomized Controlled Trial Examining the Effect of Acupressure on Agitation and Salivary Cortisol in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2018; 44:92-104. [PMID: 28768251 DOI: 10.1159/000478739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acupressure has been used to manage agitation in people with dementia because it is safe and inexpensive. However, its effect on agitation and at the biochemical level is uncertain. METHODS This randomized controlled trial examined the effect of acupressure on agitation, as measured by the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI); and on salivary cortisol, as measured at baseline (T0) and in the 3rd (T1), 5th (T2), and 8th (T3) weeks. There were 119 agitated residents with dementia randomized into 3 groups: acupressure (n = 39), sham (n = 41), and usual-care group (n = 39). RESULTS A downward trend in agitation over time was noted in the acupressure group, which almost reached a level of significance in interaction effects between groups and time points (p = 0.052). Post hoc pairwise tests in the acupressure group showed that acupressure significantly reduced agitation at T2 (mean difference -6.84, 95% CI -10.60, -3.08) compared to baseline. Significant interaction effects between groups and time points were observed on the level of salivary cortisol (p = 0.022). CONCLUSION Acupressure is a multicomponent intervention that can reduce agitation. Acupoint activation may not be a significant component in reducing agitation, although this result may have been limited by the inadequate sample size. Acupressure is effective in reducing salivary cortisol in people with dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick Yiu Cho Kwan
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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19
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Dimolareva M, Gee NR, Pfeffer K, Maréchal L, Pennington K, Meints K. Measuring Cortisol in the Classroom with School-Aged Children-A Systematic Review and Recommendations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15051025. [PMID: 29783677 PMCID: PMC5982064 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15051025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The collection of salivary cortisol has been chosen as one of the least intrusive, easiest to collect, analyze, and store methods of obtaining information on physiological changes. It is, however, not clear what the best practice is when collecting salivary cortisol from children within the school setting. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the feasibility of cortisol collection in schools for future research and to make recommendations for best practice. The review included 25 peer-reviewed articles from seven databases. The hypotheses of the included studies vary, but they all use cortisol as a diurnal, baseline, or acute measure, or to measure the effect of an intervention. Two methods of salivary cortisol collection were preferred by most of the research, i.e., passive drool or cotton Salivettes. The review has concluded that cortisol is a physiological marker that can be successfully measured in school-based research. However, there are discrepancies across studies when evaluating the collection guidelines, protocols, and instructions to participants as well as transparency of the success rate of obtaining all samples. Recommendations are made for future research to address and avoid such discrepancies and improve cross-study comparisons by implementing standard protocol guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirena Dimolareva
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Sarah Swift Building, 8 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK.
| | - Nancy R Gee
- Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA.
- WALTHAM™ Centre for Pet Nutrition, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK.
| | - Karen Pfeffer
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Sarah Swift Building, 8 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK.
| | - Laëtitia Maréchal
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Sarah Swift Building, 8 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK.
| | - Kyla Pennington
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Sarah Swift Building, 8 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK.
| | - Kerstin Meints
- School of Psychology, University of Lincoln, Sarah Swift Building, 8 Brayford Wharf, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK.
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20
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Pulopulos MM, Kozusznik MW. The moderating role of meaning in life in the relationship between perceived stress and diurnal cortisol. Stress 2018; 21:203-210. [PMID: 29373936 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1429397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested that meaning in life may buffer the negative effects of stress. This study is the first to investigate the moderating role of meaning in life in the relationship between the perception of stress and diurnal cortisol in two independent samples of healthy adults. In study 1 (n = 172, men = 82, women = 90, age range = 21-55 years, mean age = 37.58 years), the results of moderated regression analyses revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between overall perceived stress in the past month and both diurnal cortisol levels (area-under-the-curve with respect to the ground; AUCg) and the diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) only in individuals with low levels of meaning in life conceptualized as the degree to which one engages in activities that are personally valued and important. In study 2 (n = 259, men = 125, women = 134, age range = 18-54 years, mean age = 29.06 years), we found a non-significant interaction term between meaning in life conceptualized as having goals and a sense of excitement regarding one's future and perception of stress in a model of both adjusted AUCg and DCS. The results were independent of age, sex, body mass index, education, and race. The results shed light on the importance and the complexity of the construct of meaning in life and offer a possible explanation for why some people who face stressors may be more vulnerable than others to developing stress-related health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matias M Pulopulos
- a Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Malgorzata W Kozusznik
- b Research Group for Work, Organizational and Personnel Psychology (WOPP) , Katholieke Universiteit Leuven , Leuven , Belgium
- c IDOCAL , University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain
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21
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Karhula K, Härmä M, Sallinen M, Lindholm H, Hirvonen A, Elovainio M, Kivimäki M, Vahtera J, Puttonen S. Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase: Is there consistency between psychosocial stress test and burdensome work shifts? JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2017; 14:1003-1010. [PMID: 28692340 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1350786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the consistency of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA) total daily secretion between laboratory and field circumstances. The 95 participants were shift working female health care professionals with high (n = 53) or low (n = 42) psychosocial stress (job strain) measured by the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). The Trier Social Stress Test including a 5-min free speech and a mental arithmetic task was conducted with four, and field measurements with three daily saliva samples of cortisol and sAA during circadian rhythm and inter-shift recovery controlled morning shift, night shift, and a day off. The associations of salivary cortisol and sAA area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) and area under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) between laboratory and field were tested using OLS (Ordinary Least Squares) regression. The sAA AUCg output in the laboratory was correlated with the output during all field measurement days and similarly among high and low job strain groups (p < 0.001). SAA AUCi and salivary cortisol AUCg and AUCi were not correlated between laboratory and field measurement, neither in the whole sample nor among the low or high job strain group. In conclusion, a laboratory measure of sAA AUCg output is promising in predicting stress-related output during burdensome work shifts and leisure time, whereas sAA AUCi or salivary cortisol seem not to have this potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kati Karhula
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Mikko Härmä
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Mikael Sallinen
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
- b Department of Psychology , University of Jyväskylä , Jyväskylä , Finland
| | - Harri Lindholm
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
- c NokiaTECH, Digital Health , Espoo , Finland
| | - Ari Hirvonen
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Marko Elovainio
- d National Institute of Health and Welfare , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Mika Kivimäki
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
- e Department of Epidemiology and Public Health , University College London , London , United Kingdom
- f Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Jussi Vahtera
- g Department of Public Health , University of Turku and Turku University Hospital , Turku , Finland
| | - Sampsa Puttonen
- a Finnish Institute of Occupational Health , Helsinki , Finland
- f Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland
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22
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Falco A, Dal Corso L, Girardi D, De Carlo A, Comar M. The moderating role of job resources in the relationship between job demands and interleukin-6 in an Italian healthcare organization. Res Nurs Health 2017; 41:39-48. [PMID: 29168200 DOI: 10.1002/nur.21844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study we examined the association between job demands (JD), job resources (JR), and serum levels of a possible biomarker of stress, the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6). According to the buffer hypothesis of the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, we expected that job resources-defined as job autonomy and social support from supervisor-might buffer the relationship between job demands, defined as emotional demands and interpersonal conflict with colleagues, and IL-6. Data from 119 employees in an Italian public healthcare organization (acute care hospital) were analyzed using multiple regression. In predicting IL-6, the interactions between emotional demands and JR and between interpersonal conflict with colleagues and job autonomy (but not social support) were significant, after controlling for the effect of age and gender. The association between JD and IL-6 was stronger for individuals with low levels of JR, so that levels of IL-6 were highest when JD were high and JR were low. Overall, these results are consistent with the buffer hypothesis of the JD-R model and also extend previous research, showing that the exposure to stressful situations at work, measured as high JD and low JR, is associated with higher levels of IL-6 in hospital employees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Falco
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Dal Corso
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Damiano Girardi
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Manola Comar
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health-IRCCS "Burlo Garofolo", Trieste, Italy.,Department of Medical Science, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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23
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Boggero IA, Hostinar CE, Haak EA, Murphy MLM, Segerstrom SC. Psychosocial functioning and the cortisol awakening response: Meta-analysis, P-curve analysis, and evaluation of the evidential value in existing studies. Biol Psychol 2017; 129:207-230. [PMID: 28870447 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.08.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Cortisol levels rise immediately after awakening and peak approximately 30-45min thereafter. Psychosocial functioning influences this cortisol awakening response (CAR), but there is considerable heterogeneity in the literature. The current study used p-curve and meta-analysis on 709 findings from 212 studies to test the evidential value and estimate effect sizes of four sets of findings: those associating worse psychosocial functioning with higher or lower cortisol increase relative to the waking period (CARi) and to the output of the waking period (AUCw). All four sets of findings demonstrated evidential value. Psychosocial predictors explained 1%-3.6% of variance in CARi and AUCw responses. Based on these effect sizes, cross-sectional studies assessing CAR would need a minimum sample size of 617-783 to detect true effects with 80% power. Depression was linked to higher AUCw and posttraumatic stress to lower AUCw, whereas inconclusive results were obtained for predictor-specific effects on CARi. Suggestions for future CAR research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Boggero
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 125 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
| | - Camelia E Hostinar
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, 103 Young Hall, Davis, CA 95616, United States.
| | - Eric A Haak
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 125 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
| | - Michael L M Murphy
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, 5000 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States.
| | - Suzanne C Segerstrom
- Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky, 125 Kastle Hall, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
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24
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Blom V, Svedberg P, Bergström G, Mather L, Lindfors P. Stress in paid and unpaid work as related to cortisol and subjective health complaints in women working in the public health care sector. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WORKPLACE HEALTH MANAGEMENT 2017. [DOI: 10.1108/ijwhm-12-2016-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Focusing on 420 women employed within the woman-dominated health care sector, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how any variation in their total workload (TWL) in terms of paid and unpaid work relate to various subjective health complaints (SHC) (n=420) and the neuroendocrine stress marker cortisol (n=68).
Design/methodology/approach
The authors explored how any variation in their TWL in terms of paid and unpaid work related cross-sectionally to SHC (n=420), and the neuroendocrine stress marker cortisol (n=68).
Findings
Hierarchical regression analyses showed that stress of unpaid work was most strongly related to diurnal variations in cortisol. Both stress of paid and unpaid work as well as TWL stress, but not hours spent on TWL, were related to SHC.
Practical implications
Taken together, objective measures of hours spent on various TWL domains were unrelated to outcome measures while perceptions of having too much TWL and TWL stress were linked to both cortisol and SHC, i.e. how individuals perceive a situation seem to be more important for health than the actual situation, which has implications for research and efforts to reduce individual TWL.
Originality/value
This study is unique in showing that unpaid work and perceptions having too much TWL relate to stress markers in women working in the public health care sector.
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Lacourt TE, Heijnen CJ. Mechanisms of Neurotoxic Symptoms as a Result of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment: Considerations on the Contribution of Stress, Inflammation, and Cellular Bioenergetics. CURRENT BREAST CANCER REPORTS 2017; 9:70-81. [PMID: 28616125 PMCID: PMC5445149 DOI: 10.1007/s12609-017-0245-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Breast cancer and its treatment are associated with a range of neurotoxic symptoms, such as fatigue, cognitive impairment, and pain. Although these symptoms generally subside after treatment completion, they become chronic in a significant subset of patients. We here summarize recent findings on neuroinflammation, stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction as mechanistic pathways leading to neurotoxic symptom experience in breast cancer patients and survivors. RECENT FINDINGS Neuroinflammation related to stress or cancer treatment and stress resulting from diagnosis, treatment, or (cancer-related) worrying are important predictors of a neurotoxic symptom experience, both during and after treatment for breast cancer. Both inflammation and stress hormones, as well as cancer treatment, can induce mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in reduced cellular energy. SUMMARY We propose reduced cellular energy (mitochondrial dysfunction) induced by inflammation, oxygen radical production, and stress as a result of cancer and/or cancer treatment as a final mechanism underlying neurotoxic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara E. Lacourt
- Department of Symptom Research, Neuroimmunology Laboratory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 384, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Cobi J. Heijnen
- Department of Symptom Research, Neuroimmunology Laboratory, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 384, Houston, TX 77030 USA
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Landstedt E, Harryson L, Hammarström A. Changing housework, changing health? A longitudinal analysis of how changes in housework are associated with functional somatic symptoms. Int J Circumpolar Health 2016; 75:31781. [PMID: 27369590 PMCID: PMC4930552 DOI: 10.3402/ijch.v75.31781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2016] [Revised: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM The aim of this study was to analyse how changes in housework over the course of adulthood are related to somatic health in Swedish men and women. METHODS Data were drawn from 2 waves of the Northern Swedish Cohort Study, response rate 94.3%, N=1,001. A subsample of cohabiting individuals was selected (n=328 women, 300 men). Outcome variable was functional somatic symptoms (FSS) at age 42. Associations were assessed in multivariate general linear models with adjustment for confounders and somatic health at age 30. RESULTS Housework is primarily performed by women, and women's responsibility for and performance of housework increased from ages 30 to 42. These changes were associated with elevated levels of FSS at age 42 in women. Men reported considerably lower responsibility for and performed less housework compared with women, the load of housework for men does not change substantially from ages 30 to 42 and no associations with FSS were identified. CONCLUSIONS The gendered division of housework means that women are particularly exposed to a heavy workload. Women's responsibility for and performance of housework increase between ages 30 and 42 and this threatens to be embodied in the form FSS. We conclude that housework should be considered an important source of stress in addition to that from waged work and that a deeper understanding of the links between housework and health requires a gender theoretical analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Landstedt
- Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden;
| | - Lisa Harryson
- Department of Sociology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anne Hammarström
- Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Family conflict and lower morning cortisol in adolescents and adults: modulation of puberty. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22531. [PMID: 26928887 PMCID: PMC4772378 DOI: 10.1038/srep22531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Accepted: 02/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to explore the association between family conflict and HPA axis activity, especially with respect to the potential modulating effect of puberty. A total of 205 adolescents and 244 adult parents were recruited. Family conflict was assessed by the family conflict subscale of the Family Environmental Scale and serial salivary cortisol was measured in all participants. A marginally lower AUCg at 30 minutes after wake up in the morning and a significant lower AUCg at 60 minutes and 90 minutes in adult parents with high family conflict was found when compared to those with low family conflict. In adolescents, there were significant interaction effects between pubertal status and family conflict on AUCg (interaction p values <0.05). Among the adolescents with low family conflict, those at late/post pubertal status had higher AUCg than their pre/early pubertal counterparts but this difference was not observed in the adolescents with high family conflict. Adverse family environment is associated with HPA axis dysfunction in adults and late/post pubertal adolescents and pubertal maturation plays a critical role in modulating the association between family environment and HPA axis function.
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Ronaldson A, Kidd T, Poole L, Leigh E, Jahangiri M, Steptoe A. Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm Is Associated With Adverse Cardiac Events and Mortality in Coronary Artery Bypass Patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:3676-82. [PMID: 26305622 PMCID: PMC4889728 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2015-2617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE There is growing evidence that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays a role in the progression of cardiovascular disease. We examined the relationship between diurnal cortisol rhythm and adverse events in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We hypothesized that a flatter presurgical diurnal cortisol slope would be associated with higher rates of adverse cardiac events and death in the years following the CABG procedure. METHODS Repeated measures of saliva were taken over the day from 250 CABG patients 1 month before surgery to assess diurnal cortisol slope and overall output (area under the curve). Long-term clinical outcomes were occurrence of a major adverse cardiac event (MACE) and death, and were collected up to 2.68 (SD = 0.40) years after surgery. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine relationships between presurgical cortisol and clinical outcomes. EuroSCORE, chronic illness burden, and whether or not the patient had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass were included as covariates in the models. RESULTS Diurnal cortisol slope predicted the occurrence of MACE or death after surgery (hazard ratio = 0.73; 95% confidence interval = 0.56-0.96; P = .023). Patients with a steeper slope were at reduced risk of adverse outcomes. This association was driven by changes in both waking and evening cortisol levels. CONCLUSION These results provide evidence for a link between diurnal cortisol rhythm and recovery after CABG. Measuring diurnal cortisol slope before surgery may help to identify those patients at risk of adverse outcomes in the years after the procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Ronaldson
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Tara Kidd
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia Poole
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth Leigh
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Marjan Jahangiri
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health (A.R., T.K., L.P., E.L., A.S.), University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom; and Department of Cardiac Surgery (M.J.), St. George's Hospital, University of London, London SW17 0QT, United Kingdom
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Early- and Late-Adolescent Predictors of Psychological Health in Adulthood: Results from the Intergenerational Studies. JOURNAL OF ADULT DEVELOPMENT 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s10804-015-9214-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Rausch J, Gäbel A, Nagy K, Kleindienst N, Herpertz SC, Bertsch K. Increased testosterone levels and cortisol awakening responses in patients with borderline personality disorder: gender and trait aggressiveness matter. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 55:116-27. [PMID: 25796037 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by antagonism, negative affectivity, disinhibition, and impairments in interpersonal functioning, including enhanced impulsive aggression. Interpersonal dysfunctions may be related to alterations in endocrine systems. The current study investigated alterations in basal activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) reproductive and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) stress system in BPD patients and their association to anger-related aggression with a particular focus on effects of gender and comorbid conditions of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD Saliva testosterone levels as well as cortisol awakening responses were assessed in 55 medication-free female and male patients with BPD and compared to 47 gender-, age-, and intelligence-matched healthy volunteers. In addition, analyses controlling for current depression and PSTD and bivariate correlations between testosterone and cortisol levels on the one hand and anger and aggressiveness on the other hand were performed. RESULTS The results revealed increased saliva testosterone levels in female and male patients with BPD as well as elevated cortisol awakening responses in female, but not male patients with BPD compared to healthy volunteers. Cortisol awakening responses were positively related to anger and aggressiveness in female patients with BPD, but no associations were found with testosterone levels. CONCLUSION In line with previous reports, the present results suggest endocrine alterations in BPD which may be associated with interpersonal impairments, such as increased anger-related aggressive behavior and could have implications for the development of new (psychopharmaco-) therapeutic interventions that may help to restore the alterations in the HPA and HPG systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Rausch
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Gäbel
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Krisztina Nagy
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Kleindienst
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabine C Herpertz
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Bertsch
- Department for General Psychiatry, Center of Psychosocial Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
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O'Donnell E, Landolt K, Hazi A, Dragano N, Wright BJ. An experimental study of the job demand-control model with measures of heart rate variability and salivary alpha-amylase: Evidence of increased stress responses to increased break autonomy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 51:24-34. [PMID: 25290345 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Revised: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We assessed in an experimental design whether the stress response towards a work task was moderated by the autonomy to choose a break during the assigned time to complete the task. This setting is defined in accordance with the theoretical framework of the job-demand-control (JDC) model of work related stress. The findings from naturalistic investigations of a stress-buffering effect of autonomy (or 'buffer hypothesis') are equivocal and the experimental evidence is limited, especially with relation to physiological indices of stress. Our objective was to investigate if increased autonomy in a particular domain (break time control) was related with adaptive physiology using objective physiological markers of stress; heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary alpha amylase (sAA). We used a within-subject design and the 60 female participants were randomly assigned to an autonomy (free timing of break) and standard conditions (fixed timing of break) of a word processing task in a simulated office environment in a random order. Participants reported increased perceptions of autonomy, no difference in demand and performed worse in the task in the break-time autonomy versus the standard condition. The results revealed support for the manipulation of increased autonomy, but in the opposing direction. Increased autonomy was related with dysregulated physiological reactivity, synonymous with typical increased stress responses. Potentially, our findings may indicate that autonomy is not necessary a resource but could become an additional stressor when it adds additional complexity while the amount of work (demands) remains unchanged. Further, our findings underscore the need to collect objective physiological evidence of stress to supplement self-reported information. Self-report biases may partially explain the inconsistent findings with the buffer hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma O'Donnell
- School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Kathleen Landolt
- School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Agnes Hazi
- School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Nico Dragano
- Institute for Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, University of Duesseldorf, Universitatstrasse 1, Duesseldorf 40255, Germany
| | - Bradley J Wright
- School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria 3086, Australia.
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Sharpley CF, Bitsika V, Christie DRH, Denham JW, Duchesne GM, Couper JW. Researching Depression in Prostate Cancer Patients: Factors, Timing, and Measures. JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH 2014. [DOI: 10.1089/jomh.2014.0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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