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Lee KM, Wang C, Du H, Hunger J, Tomiyama AJ. Weight stigma as a stressor: A preliminary multi-wave, longitudinal study testing the biobehavioral pathways of the cyclic obesity/weight-based stigma (COBWEBS) model. Appetite 2024; 201:107573. [PMID: 38908408 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
Higher weight individuals often face significant weight stigma. According to the Cyclic Obesity/Weight-Based Stigma (COBWEBS) model, weight stigma operates as a stressor that increases the stress hormone cortisol and promotes comfort eating, thus resulting in weight gain. Such weight gain is harmful as it exposes individuals to further stigmatization. Thus far, no study has yet tested the mechanistic pathways of the COBWEBS model and prospective longitudinal studies are severely lacking. To fill this gap, the current study tested the biobehavioral pathways of the COBWEBS model using a 4-wave yearlong longitudinal study comprising 348 higher weight individuals. Using a structural equation modeling framework, we tested three cross lagged panel models for the putative mediator, comfort eating. The models examined either synchronous and/or lagged effects across weight stigma, perceived stress, comfort eating, weight, and future weight stigma. The best fitting model revealed significant associations between baseline weight stigma, perceived stress, and comfort eating within the same month. However, comfort eating did not significantly predict weight four months later. Weight status and baseline weight stigma both predicted future weight stigma as expected. Additionally, a separate path model with hair cortisol found that weight stigma predicted perceived stress four months later, but stress did not predict aggregate cortisol levels from months 10 and 11. Hair cortisol also did not predict later weight. This preliminary work lays the foundation for identifying modifiable targets of weight stigma, thereby offering potential avenues to reduce weight stigma's harm on higher weight individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Lee
- University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Psychology Building, Los Angeles, CA, 900951563, USA.
| | - Christy Wang
- University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Psychology Building, Los Angeles, CA, 900951563, USA
| | - Han Du
- University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Psychology Building, Los Angeles, CA, 900951563, USA
| | - Jeffrey Hunger
- Miami University, 90 North Patterson Avenue, Oxford, OH, 45056, USA
| | - A Janet Tomiyama
- University of California, Los Angeles, 1285 Psychology Building, Los Angeles, CA, 900951563, USA
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2
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Coelho D, Yamaguchi S, Harb A, Souza-Talarico JN. Effort-reward and overcommitment at work and psychiatric symptoms in healthcare professionals: The mediation role of allostatic load. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 17:100225. [PMID: 38318421 PMCID: PMC10839753 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100225] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite decades of advancement to support interventions for managing work-related stress, mental health issues have significantly escalated among healthcare professionals. Effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment in the workplace are linked to several psychiatric disorders. However, the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated whether ERI and overcommitment among healthcare professionals were linked to Allostatic Load (AL) and whether AL mediates the relationship between ERI, overcommitment and mental health issues. Methods One hundred forty-two nursing workers (n = 142; 90.1 % female, mean age: 39.5 ± 9.6) were randomly recruited from a university hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and applied the ERI scale that assesses work effort, reward, and overcommitment. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Self-Report Questionnaire for psychiatric symptoms (SRQ-20) evaluated the mental health outcomes. Ten neuroendocrine, metabolic, immunologic and cardiovascular biomarkers were analyzed, and values were transformed into an AL index using clinical reference cutoffs. Results Linear regression adjusted for covariates showed that higher scores for overcommitment were associated with higher AL indexes, which in turn were associated with higher SRQ-20, but not with PSS and DBI scores. As expected, higher scores for effort, lower for reward, and higher ERI were associated with higher scores for PSS, SRQ-20, and DBI, but not with AL index. Direct effect estimates showed that overcommitment was directly associated with higher SRQ-20 scores, and indirectly via AL. Conclusion Our study reveals that overcommitment, rather than ERI, was linked to increased AL in healthcare workers. Additionally, AL mediates the relationship between overcommitment and higher psychiatric symptoms, highlighting a key mechanism by which work stress can lead to mental health problems. Individual's responses to high work demands need to be considered when designing predictive models and interventions for mental health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Coelho
- University of São Paulo, School of Nursing, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Alaa Harb
- University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa, USA
| | - Juliana N. Souza-Talarico
- University of São Paulo, School of Nursing, São Paulo, Brazil
- University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa, USA
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Biener I, Mueller TT, Lin J, Bao H, Steffen J, Hoerl M, Biere K, Matzel S, Woehrle T, König S, Keiler AM, Thieme D, Keppler O, Klein M, Weinberger T, Osterman A, Adorjan K, Choukér A. Endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid-like compounds and cortisone in head hair of health care workers as markers of stress and resilience during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:71. [PMID: 38296973 PMCID: PMC10831098 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02771-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 impacted health systems globally, creating increased workload and mental stress upon health care workers (HCW). During the first pandemic wave (March to May 2020) in southern Germany, we investigated the impact of stress and the resilience to stress in HCW by measuring changes in hair concentrations of endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid-like compounds and cortisone. HCW (n = 178) recruited from multiple occupation and worksites in the LMU-University-Hospital in Munich were interviewed at four interval visits to evaluate mental stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. A strand of hair of up to 6 cm in length was sampled once in May 2020, which enabled retrospective individual stress hormone quantifications during that aforementioned time period. Perceived anxiety and impact on mental health were demonstrated to be higher at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and decreased significantly thereafter. Resilience was stable over time, but noted to be lower in women than in men. The concentrations of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) and the structural congeners N-palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), N-oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and N-stearoylethanolamide (SEA) were noted to have decreased significantly over the course of the pandemic. In contrast, the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) levels increased significantly and were found to be higher in nurses, laboratory staff and hospital administration than in physicians. PEA was significantly higher in subjects with a higher resilience but lower in subjects with anxiety. SEA was also noted to be reduced in subjects with anxiety. Nurses had significantly higher cortisone levels than physicians, while female subjects had significant lower cortisone levels than males. Hair samples provided temporal and measurable objective psychophysiological-hormonal information. The hair endocannabinoids/endocannabinoid-like compounds and cortisone correlated to each other and to professions, age and sex quite differentially, relative to specific periods of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingeborg Biener
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Tonina T Mueller
- Department of Medicine I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Jin Lin
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), Ludwigstr. 33, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Han Bao
- Department of Statistics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), Ludwigstr. 33, 80539, Munich, Germany
| | - Julius Steffen
- Department of Medicine I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Marion Hoerl
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Katharina Biere
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Matzel
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Woehrle
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Simon König
- Institute of Doping Analysis und Sports Biochemistry Dresden (IDAS), Dresdner Str. 12, 01731, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Annekathrin M Keiler
- Institute of Doping Analysis und Sports Biochemistry Dresden (IDAS), Dresdner Str. 12, 01731, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Detlef Thieme
- Institute of Doping Analysis und Sports Biochemistry Dresden (IDAS), Dresdner Str. 12, 01731, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Oliver Keppler
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Klein
- Emergency Department, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Weinberger
- Department of Medicine I, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Osterman
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Virology, National Reference Center for Retroviruses, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristina Adorjan
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Nußbaumstr. 7, 80336, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexander Choukér
- Laboratory of Translational Research "Stress and Immunity", Department of Anesthesiology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
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Alanazi AS, Alsalhi WA, Alghuyaythat WK, Almutairi AN, Almazrou MA, Alabdulminaim JA, Mohamed EY. Stress-Related Hair Loss Among the General Population in Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study. Cureus 2023; 15:e46517. [PMID: 37927722 PMCID: PMC10625171 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hair loss is a prevalent concern affecting individuals worldwide, often attributed to various factors including genetics, hormonal changes, and stress. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of stress-related hair loss among the general population in Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia, and hair loss association with sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1080 participants. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire that encompassed sociodemographic factors, stress levels, psychosocial factors, and habits related to hair care and lifestyle. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression analysis. Results The study revealed that 770 (71.3%) of participants reported experiencing hair loss, with females showing a higher prevalence compared to males 622 vs. 148 (78.2% vs. 51.9%). A significant relationship between age and hair loss was observed (Chi-x2 = 8.264, p-value = 0.016), with individuals aged 31 to 40 years experiencing hair loss more frequently 108 (80.6%). Stress was found to be a significant contributing factor to hair loss (χ^2 = 37.533, p < 0.001), with 674 (73.8%) of participants reporting stress. Moreover, stress levels exhibited a dose-response relationship with the severity of hair loss. Psychosocial factors, including personal relationship problems and financial difficulties, also demonstrated significant associations with hair loss (p-value = 0.005, 0.003, respectively). Conclusion The study underscores the considerable prevalence of stress-related hair loss among the general population in Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia. Stress, along with various sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, emerged as significant contributors to hair loss. These findings emphasize the need for holistic approaches that address both physiological and psychological aspects to mitigate the burden of hair loss in the community. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions for individuals at risk of stress-induced hair loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulaziz S Alanazi
- Department of Dermatology, King Khalid General Hospital, Hafar Al-Batin, SAU
| | - Waleed A Alsalhi
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, SAU
| | | | | | | | | | - Elsadig Y Mohamed
- Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Al Majma'ah, SAU
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Isaac AJ, Rodriguez AM, D'Anna-Hernandez K, Gemmell N, Acedo GR, Dougherty LR, Bufferd SJ. Preschool-aged children's hair cortisol and parents' behavior, psychopathology, and stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 151:106052. [PMID: 36893557 PMCID: PMC10361335 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106052] [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: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Parental factors, including parenting behavior, parent mental health, and parent stress, are associated with child stress. More recently, studies have shown that these parental factors may also be associated with children's hair cortisol concentration (HCC). HCC is a novel biomarker for chronic stress. HCC indexes cumulative cortisol exposure thereby reflecting longer-term stress reactivity. Although HCC is associated with a range of problems in adults such as depression, anxiety, appraisal of stressful events, and diabetes, studies investigating HCC in children have been inconsistent, with particularly little information about parental factors and HCC. As chronic stress may have long-term physiological and emotional effects on children, and parent-based interventions can reduce these effects, it is important to identify parental factors that relate to children's HCC. The aim of this study was to examine associations between preschool-aged children's physiological stress measured via HCC and mother- and father-reported parenting behavior, psychopathology, and stress. Participants included N = 140 children ages 3-5-years-old and their mothers (n = 140) and fathers (n = 98). Mothers and fathers completed questionnaire measures on their parenting behavior, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress. Children's HCC was assessed by processing small hair samples. HCC levels were higher in boys compared to girls, and higher in children of color compared to white children. There was a significant association between children's HCC and fathers' authoritarian parenting. Children's HCC was positively associated with physical coercion, a specific facet of fathers' authoritarian parenting, even after accounting for sex of the child, race/ethnicity of the child, stressful life events, fathers' depression, fathers' anxiety, and fathers' perceived stress. In addition, there was a significant interaction between higher levels of both mothers' and fathers' authoritarian parenting and children's HCC. Children's HCC was not significantly related to mothers' and fathers' anxiety and depression or mothers' and fathers' perceived stress. These findings contribute to the large literature that links harsh and physical parenting practices with problematic outcomes in children.
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Wettstein A, Jenni G, Schneider S, Kühne F, grosse Holtforth M, La Marca R. Teachers' perception of aggressive student behavior through the lens of chronic worry and resignation, and its association with psychophysiological stress: An observational study. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY OF EDUCATION 2023; 26:1181-1200. [PMID: 37416865 PMCID: PMC10319659 DOI: 10.1007/s11218-023-09782-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Aggressive student behavior is considered a leading risk factor for teacher stress. However, teachers' coping styles may affect how they perceive and respond to aggressive student behavior. This study tests whether teachers' perceptions of aggressive student behavior mainly mirror objectively observed aggression in presence of the teacher (as coded by external observers) or whether teachers' perception of aggressive student behavior primarily reflects teachers' avoidant coping styles, such as chronic worry and resignation. Finally, we examine whether observed and teacher-perceived aggression relates to increased vital exhaustion and psychophysiological stress among teachers (i.e., higher hair cortisol concentration). In an ambulatory assessment study, we administered self-reports to 42 Swiss teachers to assess perceived student aggression, chronic worry, resignation, and vital exhaustion. Additionally, four consecutive lessons per teacher were filmed, and aggressive student behavior in presence of the teacher was coded by four trained external observers. The concentration of cortisol was assessed in hair samples. Results showed that teacher-perceived and observed aggression were moderately associated. Observed aggression was related to teacher perceptions to a much lesser extent than teachers' avoidant coping styles, that is, chronic worry and resignation. While teacher-perceived student aggression was associated with teachers' self-reported vital exhaustion, we did not find any significant association with hair-cortisol concentration. Our findings suggest that teachers perceive student aggression through the lens of their coping styles. Teachers' dysfunctional coping styles are associated with an overestimation of student aggression. Teachers' overestimation of student aggression relates to higher levels of vital exhaustion. Therefore, it is crucial to identify and change teachers' dysfunctional coping styles to prevent a vicious cycle of dysfunctional teacher-student interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wettstein
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Jenni
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Schneider
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Kühne
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin grosse Holtforth
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roberto La Marca
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Centre for Stress-Related Disorders, Clinica Holistica Engiadina, Susch, Switzerland
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Casto KV, Prasad S, Josephs RA, Zilioli S, Welker K, Maslov A, Jones AC, Mehta PH. No Compelling Evidence that Self-Reported Personality Traits Explain Basal Testosterone and Cortisol’s Associations with Status-Relevant Behavior. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-023-00210-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
A goal of behavioral neuroendocrinology is to understand how basal hormone levels relate to behavior. Studies of human participants sometimes measure self-reported personality traits, in addition to or instead of direct behavioral observation. Although personality traits often predict their respective behaviors, whether personality explains hormone-behavior relationships remains unclear.
Methods
We obtained data from eight previous studies (total N = 985) that examined baseline testosterone and cortisol as predictors of status-relevant behavior (competitiveness, dominance, risk-taking, aggression, affiliation, and social status). We tested whether the previously reported hormone-behavior relationships are mediated by self-reported personality traits (e.g., trait dominance, prestige, extraversion). As a secondary research question, we also tested whether trait dominance moderated the testosterone-behavior relationships.
Results
As expected, self-reported personality traits often predicted status-relevant behaviors, but there was little evidence that traits also correlated with basal testosterone or the testosterone × cortisol interaction. Across all eight studies, personality traits did not significantly mediate hormone-behavior relationships. Indeed, the effect sizes of the hormone-behavior relationships were robust to the inclusion of personality traits as covariates. Further, we did not find strong or consistent evidence that trait dominance moderates the testosterone-behavior association.
Conclusion
Results suggest that basal testosterone and cortisol predict status-related behavior independent of self-reported personality. We discuss how these results may have broader implications for the physiological mechanisms by which testosterone and cortisol influence behavior, a process that could be unconscious and automatic. We also discuss alternative explanations, limitations, and future directions.
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8
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Wettstein A, Schneider S, Jenni G, Holtforth MG, Tschacher W, La Marca R. Association between workaholism, vital exhaustion, and hair cortisol concentrations among teachers: A longitudinal study testing the moderation effect of neuroticism. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1046573. [PMID: 36591097 PMCID: PMC9797672 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1046573] [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: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Workaholism in teachers is characterized by the willingness to work until exhausted and may be associated with various adverse health outcomes as well as high economic costs. The present study examines the association between workaholism, vital exhaustion (VE), and hair cortisol concentration (HCC) as indicators of chronic stress. In addition, this study explores the moderating role of the personality trait neuroticism on the relationship between workaholism and chronic stress indicators, i.e., VE and HCC. Methods Forty-two Swiss teachers (28 females; M age = 39.66, SD = 11.99) completed questionnaires assessing VE (Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire), workaholism (Measure of Coping Capacity Questionnaire), and neuroticism (Big-Five Inventory). Together with VE, HCC was assessed twice, with a one year lag. Results Both workaholism and neuroticism were positively associated with VE at both time points but not with HCC. Moderation analyses revealed a positive relationship between workaholism and VE in teachers with high neuroticism, while no such association was observed in teachers with low neuroticism. No associations were found between self-reports and HCC. Discussion These findings emphasize the importance of considering individual characteristics when investigating VE. Further research is necessary to investigate the applicability of HCC as a biomarker of chronic stress in the context of work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Wettstein
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Alexander Wettstein,
| | - Sandra Schneider
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Jenni
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin grosse Holtforth
- Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Department of Neurology, Psychosomatic Medicine, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Tschacher
- Experimental Psychology Division, University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roberto La Marca
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland,Centre for Stress-Related Disorders, Clinica Holistica Engiadina, Susch, Switzerland,Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Whiston A, Igou ER, Fortune DG, Semkovska M. Examining Stress and Residual Symptoms in Remitted and Partially Remitted Depression Using a Wearable Electrodermal Activity Device: A Pilot Study. IEEE JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL ENGINEERING IN HEALTH AND MEDICINE 2022; 11:96-106. [PMID: 36644642 PMCID: PMC9833495 DOI: 10.1109/jtehm.2022.3228483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Consistent evidence suggests residual symptoms and stress are the most reliable predictors of relapse in remitted depression. Prevailing methodologies often do not enable continuous real-time sampling of stress. Thus, little is known about day-to-day interactions between residual symptoms and stress in remitted depression. In preparation for a full-scale trial, this study aimed to pilot a wrist-worn wearable electrodermal activity monitor: ADI (Analog Devices, Inc.) Study Watch for assessing interactions between physiological stress and residual depressive symptoms following depression remission. 13 individuals remitted from major depression completed baseline, daily diary, and post-daily diary assessments. Self-reported stress and residual symptoms were measured at baseline and post-daily diary. Diary assessments required participants to wear ADI's Study Watch during waking hours and complete self-report questionnaires every evening over one week. Sleep problems, fatigue, energy loss, and agitation were the most frequently reported residual symptoms. Average skin conductance responses (SCRs) were 16.09 per-hour, with an average of 11.30 hours of wear time per-day. Increased residual symptoms were associated with enhanced self-reported stress on the same day. Increased SCRs on one day predicted increased residual symptoms on the next day. This study showed a wearable electrodermal activity device can be recommended for examining stress as a predictor of remitted depression. This study also provides preliminary work on relationships between residual symptoms and stress in remitted depression. Importantly, significant findings from the small sample of this pilot are preliminary with an aim to follow up with a 3-week full-scale study to draw conclusions about psychological processes explored. Clinical and Translational Impact Statemen-ADI's wearable electrodermal activity device enables a continuous measure of physiological stress for identifying its interactions with residual depressive symptoms following remission. This novel procedure is promising for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aoife Whiston
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Limerick Limerick V94 T9PX Ireland
| | - Eric R Igou
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Limerick Limerick V94 T9PX Ireland
| | - Donal G Fortune
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Limerick Limerick V94 T9PX Ireland
| | - Maria Semkovska
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern Denmark 5230 Odense Denmark
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Dickson VV, Zhanay J, Leon A, Scott L, Arabadjian M. Measurement of stress amongst working adults with cardiovascular disease. Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs 2022; 21:848-856. [PMID: 35404401 DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvac018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of increased disability from work worldwide. Chronic stress including work-related stressors influences cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was to assess stress levels amongst workers with CVD. The specific aims were to: (i) evaluate associations of the biological marker-hair cortisol concentration (HCC) with perceived stress and (ii) examine associations of HCC and perceived stress with sociodemographic factors and work-related factors. METHODS AND RESULTS This cross-sectional descriptive study (n = 75) of employed adults (≥ 21 age) with CVD assessed perceived stress, work-related factors including workplace support, job control, job strain, and work-life balance using valid and reliable instruments. Hair cortisol concentration was measured using collected hair samples. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, correlational, and ANOVA analysis. The sample was 64% female; 80% are White, 8% African American, 4% Asian, and 8% Hispanic; mean 12 years with CVD diagnosis. Hair cortisol concentration was significantly correlated with workplace support by co-workers (r = -0.328, P = 0.012), supervisors (r = -0.260, P = 0.05), and skill discretion (-0.297, r = 0.047) but not perceived stress. Those with better work-life balance had lower HCC (F = 3.077, P = 0.054) and lower perceived stress (F = 10.320, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Although this sample of working adults with CVD reported high levels of perceived stress; only work-related factors were significantly associated with HCC. These results suggest that there are work-related stressors that cut across jobs and workplaces that may contribute to chronic stress in working adults. Healthcare providers across clinical and occupational settings have an important role in addressing work-related stress in working adults with CVD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessie Zhanay
- New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, 433 First Ave, #742, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alejandra Leon
- Boston College Connell School of Nursing, 140 Commonwealth Ave, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Lela Scott
- Howard University College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences, 400 6th St NW, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Milla Arabadjian
- New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, 433 First Ave, #742, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Moody SN, van Dammen L, Wang W, Greder KA, Neiderhiser JM, Afulani PA, Willette A, Shirtcliff EA. Impact of hair type, hair sample weight, external hair exposures, and race on cumulative hair cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 142:105805. [PMID: 35687978 PMCID: PMC10914121 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The biomarker cortisol assesses the impact of biopsychosocial stressors that activate the stress response system. Hair has emerged as a valid and non-invasive means of gauging cumulative cortisol deposited over month-long periods of time. Established protocols for the extraction of hair cortisol are being validated and refined in humans, yet methodological information about hair characteristics on cortisol remains limited. In addition to external hair exposures (e.g. dye, time spent outside), we examined hair categorization or type (e.g. kinky, straight) by extending a hair typing methodology for scientific use that is currently popular among hair care professionals. We then examined the interaction between hair type and race on cortisol levels with a hair questionnaire. Three studies were pooled to investigate how sample weight, hair type, race, heat exposures, and hair treatments impacted cumulative hair cortisol concentrations. Study 1 consisted of Adult Kenyan Medical Workers (N = 44); Study 2 Mexican and Mexican Americans (N = 106); and Study 3 American Youth (N = 107). We found significantly higher cortisol in 5 mg of hair when compared to larger sample weights, and higher cortisol in those who spent more time outdoors. Cortisol concentrations differed between racial groups and varied by hair type; moreover, there were directional differences in cumulative cortisol from straighter to curlier hair types which depended on racial group. In addition to demonstrating the impact of relatively novel control factors like hair sample weight, outdoor exposure, and hair type, the present study illustrates the importance of disentangling hair type and race to understand variability in cumulative hair cortisol. These influences should be included in future studies that measure hair cortisol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannin N Moody
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center- New Orleans; Iowa State University.
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12
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Schneider S, Wettstein A, Tschacher W, Torchetti L, Jenni G, Kühne F, grosse Holtforth M, La Marca R. Longitudinal Associations Between Core Self-Evaluation, Vital Exhaustion and Hair Cortisol in Teachers and the Mediating Effects of Resignation Tendency. Front Psychol 2022; 13:907056. [PMID: 35874408 PMCID: PMC9302200 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.907056] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Work-related stress appears to be especially high among teachers. However, most research on teacher stress relies exclusively on teachers' self-reports. Little is known about the physiological correlates of affective stress in teachers. This longitudinal study investigates the relationship between core self-evaluation and adverse psychological and physiological stress outcomes in 42 teachers. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess core self-evaluation, vital exhaustion, and resignation tendency. The concentration of cortisol was assessed using hair samples. One year after the initial measurement, vital exhaustion and hair cortisol were assessed again. Path-analytic mediational models showed that core self-evaluation strongly predicted vital exhaustion, and resignation tendency partially mediated this relationship. However, core self-evaluation did not predict hair cortisol concentration. These findings suggest that core self-evaluation plays a crucial role in preventing vital exhaustion among teachers. A positive core self-evaluation seems beneficial for teachers' primary and secondary appraisal and an essential resource for the long-term prevention of self-reported vital exhaustion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Schneider
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Wettstein
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Wolfgang Tschacher
- Experimental Psychology Division, University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Loredana Torchetti
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Jenni
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Kühne
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Martin grosse Holtforth
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Roberto La Marca
- Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Clinica Holistica Engiadina, Centre for Stress-Related Disorders, Susch, Switzerland
- Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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13
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Jõgi AL, Pakarinen E, Lerkkanen MK. Teachers' physiological and self-reported stress, teaching practices and students' learning outcomes in Grade 1. BRITISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 93 Suppl 1:211-226. [PMID: 35774026 DOI: 10.1111/bjep.12529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Teachers' self-reported stress is related to the quality of teacher-student interactions and students' learning outcomes. However, it is unclear if teachers' physiological stress is related to child-centred teaching practices in the classroom and whether teaching practices mediate the link between teachers' stress and students' learning outcomes. AIMS We studied the effect of teachers' physiological stress and self-reported stress on their teaching practices and thereby on students' learning outcomes in math. SAMPLE A total of 53 classroom teachers and 866 Grade 1 students participated in the study. METHODS Salivary cortisol in the middle of the school day and cortisol slope from morning peak to evening were used as indicators of teachers' physiological stress, in addition to self-reported teaching-related stress. Teaching practices were observed with the ECCOM instrument. Students' math skills controlled for gender and previous skills were used as a measure of learning outcomes. Data were analysed with a two-level SEM. RESULTS Teachers' physiological stress did not have an effect on teaching practices or students' math skills. Teachers reporting less stress used relatively more child-centred teaching practices compared with teacher-directed ones. These practices had a marginal effect on classroom-level differences in the gain of students' math skills in Grade 1. There was neither a direct nor indirect effect from teachers' stress on students' math skills. Altogether, our model explained 77% of classroom-level variance in math skills. CONCLUSIONS Teachers' self-reported stress has an effect on their teaching practices, which, in turn, have a marginal effect on students' learning outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Liisa Jõgi
- Department of Teacher Education, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.,School of Educational Sciences, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Eija Pakarinen
- Department of Teacher Education, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
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14
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van der Valk E, Abawi O, Mohseni M, Abdelmoumen A, Wester V, van der Voorn B, Iyer A, van den Akker E, Hoeks S, van den Berg S, de Rijke Y, Stalder T, van Rossum E. Cross-sectional relation of long-term glucocorticoids in hair with anthropometric measurements and their possible determinants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13376. [PMID: 34811866 PMCID: PMC9285618 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-term glucocorticoids (HairGC) measured in scalp hair have been associated with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) in several cross-sectional studies. We aimed to investigate the magnitude, strength, and clinical relevance of these relations across all ages. METHODS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO registration CRD42020205187) searching for articles relating HairGC to measures of obesity. Main outcomes were bivariate correlation coefficients and unadjusted simple linear regression coefficients relating hair cortisol (HairF) and hair cortisone (HairE) to BMI, WC, and WHR. RESULTS We included k = 146 cohorts (n = 34,342 individuals). HairGC were positively related to all anthropometric measurements. The strongest correlation and largest effect size were seen for HairE-WC: pooled correlation 0.18 (95%CI 0.11-0.24; k = 7; n = 3,158; I2 = 45.7%) and pooled regression coefficient 11.0 cm increase in WC per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairE (pg/mg) on liquid-chromatography-(tandem) mass spectrometry (LC-MS) (95%CI 10.1-11.9 cm; k = 6; n = 3,102). Pooled correlation for HairF-BMI was 0.10 (95%CI 0.08-0.13; k = 122; n = 26,527; I2 = 51.2%) and pooled regression coefficient 0.049 kg/m2 per point increase in 10-log-transformed HairF (pg/mg) on LC-MS (95%CI 0.045-0.054 kg/m2 ; k = 26; n = 11,635). DISCUSSION There is a consistent positive association between HairGC and BMI, WC, and WHR, most prominently and clinically relevant for HairE-WC. These findings overall suggest an altered setpoint of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with increasing central adiposity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline van der Valk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ozair Abawi
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mostafa Mohseni
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Abdelmoumen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent Wester
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bibian van der Voorn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anand Iyer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erica van den Akker
- Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sanne Hoeks
- Department of Anesthesiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sjoerd van den Berg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolanda de Rijke
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias Stalder
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth van Rossum
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Obesity Center CGG, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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15
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Predicting Hair Cortisol and Cortisone Concentration in Postpartum Women through Repeated Measurements of Perceived Stress. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11120815. [PMID: 34940573 PMCID: PMC8707977 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether hair cortisol (HCC) and hair cortisone (HCNC) can be predicted by repeated stress reports from postpartum women in different mental health conditions (non-depressed, ND, adjustment disorder, AD, postpartum depression, PPD), 240 mothers (mean age 31.8 years; SD = 4.7) were monitored from within 1 to 6 days of childbirth over a period of three months. HCC and HCNC in 3 cm hair samples were assessed via triple mass spectrometry after liquid chromatographic separation. Every second day, participants reported their stress levels online. The summed perceived stress scores were not found to be predictive of HCC. However, perceived stress predicted a decrease in HCNC (rSpearman = -0.153, p = 0.035) and an increase in the HCC/HCNC ratio (rSpearman = 0.304, p < 0.001) in the ND group. With AD in the first few weeks after childbirth, an inverse effect appeared for HCNC (rSpearman = 0.318, p = 0.011), suggesting an overall downregulation of the HPA axis owing to the stressful experience of adjusting to the new situation. No effects were found for mothers developing PPD. The indirect results of HPA-axis activity are better indicators of the experience of psychological stress in postpartum women than the absolute HCC value.
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16
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Seng EK. Stress and migraine: I know it when I see it. Headache 2021; 61:1153-1155. [PMID: 34510442 DOI: 10.1111/head.14200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth K Seng
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY, USA.,Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.,Montefiore Headache Center, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
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17
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Groppetti D, Meazzi S, Filipe JFS, Colombani C, Panseri S, Zanzani SA, Palestrini C, Cannas S, Giordano A, Pecile A. Maternal and neonatal canine cortisol measurement in multiple matrices during the perinatal period: A pilot study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254842. [PMID: 34293013 PMCID: PMC8297866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress exposure during perinatal period may lead to maternal cortisol increase that negatively affects the offspring development. In recent years, the interest on non-invasive sampling methods to measure cortisol as a marker of stress is increasing in both humans and animals. Indeed, discomfort due to blood collection may compromise the diagnostic outcome, mainly in uncooperative patients. So far, some alternative matrices but not milk have been explored in adult dogs, while no data are available on the neonate and paediatric live pups. This study aimed to measure cortisol concentration in different biological substrates in both dams (blood, saliva, hair and milk) and pups (saliva and hair) at established times from proestrus up to two months after parturition. For this purpose, five female German shepherd bitches and their 22 pups were enrolled. Cortisol concentration was assessed using the enzyme immunoassay kit (Salivary Cortisol ELISA kit, Salimetrics) after matrices appropriate preparation if required. Cortisol was measurable in all the substrates, except some milk samples below the detection limit. Maternal cortisol concentrations differed among the matrices (P <0.0001) with the highest values recorded in plasma (median 0.596 μg/dL) compared to saliva (median 0.159 μg/dL), hair (median 0.083 μg/dL) and milk (median 0.045 μg/dL). Cortisol in dams did not vary within the same matrix over time. In pups, salivary (median 0.295 μg/dL) cortisol was always higher than hair (median 0.049 μg/dL; P <0.0001). At birth (P = 0.01) and two months later (P = 0.05), neonatal salivary cortisol was higher compared to other samplings. The present study demonstrates the suitability of these innovative substrates for cortisol measurement, suggesting them as potential diagnostic support in canine neonatology and welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Groppetti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Meazzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Joel F. S. Filipe
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Colombani
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences—Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Panseri
- Department of Veterinary Science for Health, Animal Production and Food Safety, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio A. Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Palestrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Cannas
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Giordano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Alessandro Pecile
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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18
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Bryson HE, Mensah F, Goldfeld S, Price AMH, Giallo R. Hair cortisol in mother-child dyads: examining the roles of maternal parenting and stress in the context of early childhood adversity. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021; 30:563-577. [PMID: 32323020 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-020-01537-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Physiological stress is thought to be one way that early adversity may impact children's health. How this occurs may be related to parental factors such as mothers' own stress and parenting behaviour. Hair cortisol offers a novel method for examining long-term physiological stress in mother-child dyads. The current study used hair cortisol to examine the role that maternal physiological stress and parenting behaviours play in explaining any effects of adversity on young children's physiological stress. This cross-sectional study comprised 603 mother-child dyads at child age 2 years, recruited during pregnancy for their experience of adversity through an Australian nurse home visiting trial. Hair cortisol data were available for 438 participating mothers (73%) and 319 (53%) children. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to define composite exposures of economic (e.g. unemployment, financial hardship) and psychosocial (e.g. poor mental health, family violence) adversity, and positive maternal parenting behaviour (e.g. warm, responsive). Structural equation modelling examined maternal mediating pathways through which adversity was associated with children's physiological stress. Results of the structural model showed that higher maternal and child physiological stress (hair cortisol) were positively associated with one another. Parenting behaviour was not associated with children's physiological stress. There was no evidence of any mediating pathways by which economic or psychosocial adversity were associated with children's physiological stress. The independent association identified between maternal and child hair cortisol suggests that young children's physiological stress may not be determined by exogenous environmental exposures; endogenous genetic factors may play a greater role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Elise Bryson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.
| | - Fiona Mensah
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Sharon Goldfeld
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Anna M H Price
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Rebecca Giallo
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
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19
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Examining longitudinal associations between self-reported depression, anxiety and stress symptoms and hair cortisol among mothers of young children. J Affect Disord 2021; 282:921-929. [PMID: 33601736 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal mental health is critically important given its impacts on both women's and children's outcomes. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) may provide insight into physiological processes underpinning mental health. This study investigated associations between mothers' self-reported mental health symptoms and their HCC at 1, 2 and 3 years postpartum. METHODS Longitudinal study of Australian mothers recruited for their experience of adversity in pregnancy ('right@home' trial, N=722). Mental health symptoms were self-reported using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS). Associations between DASS total and subscale scores and HCC were estimated using linear regression and generalized estimating equation (GEE) models, examining associations: at each age; across all ages (multivariate GEE); and with persistence of high symptom severity. Missing data were addressed using multiple imputation. RESULTS 546/722 (76%) women provided at least one hair sample (71% at 1, 61% at 2, 49% at 3 years). Associations between DASS total or subscale scores and HCC were not evident across time points. Only dichotomized high depression symptom severity was associated with higher HCC in the GEE models (β=0.12, p=0.04). There was no evidence of associations between persistence of high DASS symptom severity and HCC at 3 years. LIMITATIONS The DASS measured self-reported symptoms for the preceding week whereas HCC captured average cortisol over three months. Associations amongst mothers experiencing adversity may not represent patterns in the general population. CONCLUSIONS Considered in context with existing literature, these findings suggest that HCC provides limited insight into the mental health of mothers experiencing adversity across the early postpartum years.
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20
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Schaafsma FG, Hulsegge G, de Jong MA, Overvliet J, van Rossum EFC, Nieuwenhuijsen K. The potential of using hair cortisol to measure chronic stress in occupational healthcare; a scoping review. J Occup Health 2021; 63:e12189. [PMID: 33426766 PMCID: PMC7797775 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Workplace-based selective prevention of mental health problems currently relies on subjective evaluation of stress complaints. Hair cortisol captures chronic stress responses and could be a promising biomarker for the early identification of mental health problems. The objective was to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge on the practical value of hair cortisol in the occupational setting. METHODS We performed a scoping review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO up to November 2019 assessing the relations of hair cortisol with work-related stressors, perceived stress, and mental health outcomes in healthy workers. RESULTS We found five longitudinal studies, of which two observed an increase in work-related stressors to be associated with higher hair cortisol, one found a relation with lower hair cortisol and one did not find a relationship. Findings of cross-sectional studies were also mixed. The one available longitudinal study regarding mental health showed that hair cortisol was not related to depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Hair cortisol measurement within occupational health research is still in its early stage and more longitudinal studies are urgently needed to clarify its relationship with work-related stressors and perceived stress before hair cortisol can be used to identify workers at risk for mental health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederieke G. Schaafsma
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthAmsterdam Public Health research instituteAmsterdam UMCVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Gerben Hulsegge
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthAmsterdam Public Health research instituteAmsterdam UMCVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Present address:
Sustainable Productivity and EmployabilityThe Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research, TNOLeiden2316 ZLThe Netherlands
| | - Merel A. de Jong
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthCoronel Institute of Occupational HealthAmsterdam Public Health research instituteAmsterdam UMCUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Present address:
Reinier van ArkelDen BoschThe Netherlands
| | - Joyce Overvliet
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthAmsterdam Public Health research instituteAmsterdam UMCVrije Universiteit AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | - Karen Nieuwenhuijsen
- Department of Public and Occupational HealthCoronel Institute of Occupational HealthAmsterdam Public Health research instituteAmsterdam UMCUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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21
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Oumohand SE, Ward DD, Boenniger MM, Merten N, Kirschbaum C, Breteler MMB. Perceived stress but not hair cortisol concentration is related to adult cognitive performance. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 121:104810. [PMID: 32739745 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Chronic stress detrimentally affects cognition but evidence from population-based studies is scarce and largely based on one-dimensional stress assessments. In this study, we aimed to investigate associations of subjective and psychological chronic stress measures with cognition in a population-based sample of adults aged 30-95 years from the Rhineland Study. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale (subjective measure) and a cognitive test battery (N = 1766). Hair cortisol concentration (physiological measure) was assessed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in 1098 participants. Cross-sectional associations between the two measures of chronic stress and cognition were investigated using multivariable linear regression models. Subjective and physiological measures of chronic stress were not associated with each other (B = 0.005 [95 %CI = -0.005 - 0.015]). Participants with higher perceived stress and specifically lower perceived self-efficacy performed worse in all cognitive domains (effect sizes ranged from β = -0.129 [95 %CI = -0.177 - -0.080] to -0.054 [95 %CI = -0.099 - -0.009]; and from β = 0.052 [95 %CI = 0.005 - 0.098] to 0.120 [95 %CI = 0.072 - 0.167], respectively). Relationships between subjective chronic stress measures and executive functioning were stronger in men compared to women (interaction β = -0.144 [95 %CI = -0.221 - -0.067]). Relationships between perceived stress and working memory, and between perceived self-efficacy and executive functioning, processing speed, verbal episodic and working memory, increased with older age. Hair cortisol concentration was not associated with performance in any cognitive domain. Our results suggest that subjective and physiological measures capture different aspects of chronic stress in the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia E Oumohand
- Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - David D Ward
- Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Meta M Boenniger
- Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Natascha Merten
- Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Monique M B Breteler
- Population Health Sciences, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 99, 53127 Bonn, Germany; Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology (IMBIE), Faculty of Medicine, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 11, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
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22
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Kuhlthau KA, Luberto CM, Traeger L, Millstein RA, Perez GK, Lindly OJ, Chad-Friedman E, Proszynski J, Park ER. A Virtual Resiliency Intervention for Parents of Children with Autism: A Randomized Pilot Trial. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:2513-2526. [PMID: 30900195 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-03976-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Parents of children with Autism experience high levels of stress. Resiliency is the ability to cope and adapt when faced with stressful events. This randomized, waitlist controlled pilot trial examines the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an adapted virtual mind-body group intervention for parents of children with ASD. The intervention was feasible and acceptable. The immediate treatment group showed no difference in distress and greater improvement in resiliency and stress reactivity/coping relative to the delayed treatment group, (M difference 5.78; p = .038 and M difference 7.78; p = .001 respectively). Findings showed promising feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy for parents of children with ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A Kuhlthau
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street Suite 860, Boston, MA, 02114, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Christina M Luberto
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Lara Traeger
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Rachel A Millstein
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Giselle K Perez
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Olivia J Lindly
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, 125 Nashua Street Suite 860, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma Chad-Friedman
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline Proszynski
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Pratt Institute, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elyse R Park
- Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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23
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Kozusznik MW, Euwema MC. Start-up conflict and hair cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 119:104746. [PMID: 32535404 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) can be a biomarker of long-term exposure to work stress. However, research shows no consistent associations between HCC and self-reported stress. This may be due to stress being treated as a general category, without distinguishing between specific types of sources of stress, and because of a limited use of more elaborate stress assessment techniques involving intensive longitudinal designs. In this study, we analyze the relationship between perceived start-up team conflict over 11 weeks and HCC in 63 start-up team members. The results show that the level of perceived conflict is positively associated to HCC. These results draw attention to the importance of interpersonal conflict as one type of work stressors and raise awareness of its physiological effects over longer time periods in start-up teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata W Kozusznik
- Faculty of Psychology, Complutense University of Madrid, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain; Research Group Organizational and Occupational Psychology and Professional Learning, KU Leuven, Dekenstraat 2, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Martin C Euwema
- Research Group Organizational and Occupational Psychology and Professional Learning, KU Leuven, Dekenstraat 2, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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24
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Nam S, Dunton GF, Ordway MR, Ash GI, Jeon S, Vlahov D, Whittemore R, Nelson LE, Sinha R, Nunez-Smith M, Granger DA. Feasibility and acceptability of intensive, real-time biobehavioral data collection using ecological momentary assessment, salivary biomarkers, and accelerometers among middle-aged African Americans. Res Nurs Health 2020; 43:453-464. [PMID: 32856310 DOI: 10.1002/nur.22068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Perceived racial discrimination is linked to unhealthy behaviors and stress-related morbidities. A compelling body of research indicates that perceived racial discrimination may contribute to health disparities among African Americans (AAs). The purposes of this study were to describe the study protocol including data collection procedures and study measures and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of intensive biobehavioral data collection using ecological momentary assessment (EMA), salivary biomarkers, and accelerometers over 7 days among middle-aged AAs with a goal of understanding the relationships between perceived racial discrimination and biobehavioral responses to stress. Twelve AA men and women participated in the feasibility/acceptability study. They completed surveys, anthropometrics, and received in-person training in EMA and saliva sample collection at baseline. Participants were asked to respond to the random prompt text message-based EMA five times a day, wear an accelerometer daily for 7 days, and to self-collect saliva samples four times a day for 4 consecutive days. The EMA surveys included perceived racial discrimination, affective states, lifestyle behaviors, and social and physical contexts. The mean EMA response rate was 82.8%. All participants collected saliva samples four times a day for 4 consecutive days. About 83% of participants wore the accelerometer on the hip 6 out of 7 days. Despite the perception that the intensive nature of assessments would result in high participant burden, the acceptability of the study procedures was uniformly favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soohyun Nam
- School of Nursing, Yale University, Orange, Connecticut
| | - Genevieve F Dunton
- Departments of Preventive Medicine and Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | | | - Garrett I Ash
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut.,Center for Medical Informatics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - David Vlahov
- School of Nursing, Yale University, Orange, Connecticut
| | | | | | - Rajita Sinha
- Yale Stress Center, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | | | - Douglas A Granger
- School of Social Ecology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California-Irvine, Irvine, California
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25
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Langer SL, Ghosh N, Todd M, Randall AK, Romano JM, Bricker JB, Bolger N, Burns JW, Hagan RC, Porter LS. Usability and Acceptability of a Smartphone App to Assess Partner Communication, Closeness, Mood, and Relationship Satisfaction: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e14161. [PMID: 32628614 PMCID: PMC7381078 DOI: 10.2196/14161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Interpersonal communication is critical for a healthy romantic relationship. Emotional disclosure, coupled with perceived partner responsiveness, fosters closeness and adjustment (better mood and relationship satisfaction). On the contrary, holding back from disclosure is associated with increased distress and decreased relationship satisfaction. Prior studies assessing these constructs have been cross-sectional and have utilized global retrospective reports of communication. In addition, studies assessing holding back or perceived partner responsiveness have not taken advantage of smartphone ownership for data collection and have instead required website access or use of a study-provided device. Objective This study aimed to examine the (1) usability and acceptability of a smartphone app designed to assess partner communication, closeness, mood, and relationship satisfaction over 14 days and (2) between-person versus within-person variability of key constructs to inform the utility of their capture via ecological momentary assessment using the participants’ own handheld devices. Methods Adult community volunteers in a married or cohabiting partnered relationship received 2 smartphone prompts per day, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, for 14 days. In each prompt, participants were asked whether they had conversed with their partner either since awakening (afternoon prompt) or since the last assessment (evening prompt). If yes, a series of items assessed enacted communication, perceived partner communication, closeness, mood, and relationship satisfaction (evening only). Participants were interviewed by phone, 1 week after the end of the 14-day phase, to assess perceptions of the app. Content analysis was employed to identify key themes. Results Participants (N=27; mean age 36, SD 12 years; 24/27, 89% female; 25/27, 93% white and 2/27, 7% Hispanic) responded to 79.2% (555/701) of the total prompts sent and completed 553 (78.9%) of those assessments. Of the responded prompts, 79.3% (440/555) were characterized by a report of having conversed with one’s partner. The app was seen as highly convenient (mean 4.15, SD 0.78, scale: 1-5) and easy to use (mean 4.39, SD 0.70, scale: 1-5). Qualitative analyses indicated that participants found the app generally easy to navigate, but the response window too short (45 min) and the random nature of receiving notifications vexing. With regard to the variability of the app-delivered items, intraclass correlation coefficients were generally <0.40, indicating that the majority of the variability in each measure was at the within-person level. Notable exceptions were enacted disclosure and relationship satisfaction. Conclusions The findings of this study support the usability and acceptability of the app, with valuable user input to modify timing windows in future work. The findings also underscore the utility of an intensive repeated-measures approach, given the meaningful day-to-day variation (greater within-person vs between-person variability) in communication and mood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby L Langer
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Neeta Ghosh
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael Todd
- Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Ashley K Randall
- Counseling and Counseling Psychology, College of Integrative Sciences and Arts, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Joan M Romano
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jonathan B Bricker
- Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Niall Bolger
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - John W Burns
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush Medical College, Rush University, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Rachel C Hagan
- Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Laura S Porter
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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26
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Stetler CA, Guinn V. Cumulative cortisol exposure increases during the academic term: Links to performance-related and social-evaluative stressors. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 114:104584. [PMID: 31982677 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine whether cumulative cortisol production changes during a period of increased demands when cortisol and stress are assessed concurrently. The study also compared stress perceptions vs. cumulative stressful events on their respective association with cortisol output. Finally, it explored whether certain types of stressful events, those involving school/job performance or social-evaluative threat, were linked to cortisol levels across multiple weeks. METHOD The current study assessed cumulative cortisol production via hair sample in 56 undergraduates (88 % female) during both lower stress (summer break) and higher stress (academic term) periods. During the latter, both negative events (checklist) and stress perceptions were assessed weekly, and these reports were aggregated across the 10-weeks to minimize retrospective bias. RESULTS Cortisol levels in hair samples were significantly higher (d = 0.84) during the academic term (M = 14.24 pg/mg, SD = 11.36) compared to summer break (M = 8.00 pg/mg, SD = 4.14), suggesting greater cumulative exposure to cortisol. Although perceived stress was not associated with cortisol levels (rpartial(53) = .10, p = 0.46), exposure to more stressful events (rpartial(53) = .27, p = 0.047), particularly events involving academic demands (rpartial(53) = .37, p = 0.006), or negative evaluation/social rejection (rpartial(53) = .27, p = 0.045), was positively associated with cumulative cortisol exposure. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that cortisol levels in hair may be linked to cumulative exposure to stressors when measured concurrently (3 months), and that stressful events, rather than perceptions, are reflected in HPA axis activity. Real-world stressors involving performance demands and social-evaluative threat accumulate to enhance cortisol production, consistent with their acute HPA effects in the lab. Hair samples may provide a window into the past by allowing researchers to feasibly assess cortisol production before, during, and after the onset of a chronic stressor.
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27
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Nist MD, Pickler RH, Steward DK, Harrison TM, Shoben AB. Inflammatory mediators of stress exposure and neurodevelopment in very preterm infants: Protocol for the stress neuro-immune study. J Adv Nurs 2019; 75:2236-2245. [PMID: 31115064 PMCID: PMC6746581 DOI: 10.1111/jan.14079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS (a) Determine relationships among stress exposure, inflammation, and neurodevelopment in very preterm infants and determine the mediated effect of inflammation on the relationship between stress exposure and neurodevelopment; (b) describe cytokine trajectories following birth and determine the effect of stress exposure on these trajectories; and (c) examine relationships between stress exposure and chronic stress responses in very preterm infants. DESIGN Non-experimental, repeated measures. METHODS Very preterm infants born 28-31 weeks post menstrual age will be enrolled. Cumulative stress exposure over the first 14 days of life will be measured using the Neonatal Infant Stressor Scale. Blood will be collected weekly for the quantification of cytokines. Neurodevelopment will be assessed using the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant and hair for quantification of hair cortisol will be collected at 35 weeks post menstrual age. Multiple linear regression and conditional process analysis will be used to analyse the relationships among stress exposure, inflammation and neurodevelopment. Linear mixed models will be used to determine inflammatory trajectories over time. IRB approval for the study was received May 2017, and funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research was awarded July 2017. DISCUSSION This study will determine the extent to which inflammation mediates the relationship between stress exposure and neurodevelopment. Interventions to attenuate inflammation in preterm infants may improve outcomes. IMPACT Determining the potentially modifiable mediators of stress exposure and neurodevelopment in preterm infants is critical to improving long-term outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- MD Nist
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - RH Pickler
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - DK Steward
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - TM Harrison
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - AB Shoben
- College of Public Health, Division of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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28
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Kalliokoski O, Jellestad FK, Murison R. A systematic review of studies utilizing hair glucocorticoids as a measure of stress suggests the marker is more appropriate for quantifying short-term stressors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11997. [PMID: 31427664 PMCID: PMC6701156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48517-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantitating glucocorticoids (GCs) in hairs is a popular method for assessing chronic stress in studies of humans and animals alike. The cause-and-effect relationship between stress and elevated GC levels in hairs, sampled weeks later, is however hard to prove. This systematic review evaluated the evidence supporting hair glucocorticoids (hGCs) as a biomarker of stress. Only a relatively small number of controlled studies employing hGC analyses have been published, and the quality of the evidence is compromised by unchecked sources of bias. Subjects exposed to stress mostly demonstrate elevated levels of hGCs, and these concentrations correlate significantly with GC concentrations in serum, saliva and feces. This supports hGCs as a biomarker of stress, but the dataset provided no evidence that hGCs are a marker of stress outside of the immediate past. Only in cases where the stressor persisted at the time of hair sampling could a clear link between stress and hGCs be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Finn K Jellestad
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Robert Murison
- Department of Biological and Medical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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29
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Prado-Gascó V, de la Barrera U, Sancho-Castillo S, de la Rubia-Ortí JE, Montoya-Castilla I. Perceived stress and reference ranges of hair cortisol in healthy adolescents. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0214856. [PMID: 30947316 PMCID: PMC6448926 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Chronic stress during adolescence has usually been evaluated through subjective measures, leaving aside objective measures such as hair cortisol concentrations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to provide reference ranges for hair cortisol concentrations by sex and age and to study the relationship between subjective and objective measures of stress and temporal stability. Methods The participants were 170 adolescents aged between 12 and 14 years (mean = 12.78 years; standard deviation = 0.71 years; 52.40% girls) who completed the Perceived Stress Scale 4 and had their hair sampled. Results The results revealed hair cortisol concentrations ranging from 0.07 pg/mg to 9.54 pg/mg. Subjective and objective measures of stress were not related, nor was there intraindividual stability of the hair cortisol concentrations. Girls had higher hair cortisol concentrations, and there were no age differences. Conclusions This research provides cortisol reference values for adolescents that will allow the early detection of chronic stress. Such detection methods make it possible to prevent problems arising from stress because we can act more quickly and the treatments will be more effective. The study suggests that there is no relationship between perceived and objective stress; while perceived stress remained stable, the levels of hair cortisol were increased at 6 months. Despite the interesting findings of the study, there are some limitations: the sample was not obtained through probabilistic sampling, the age range was narrow, and some demographic, anthropomorphic and clinical factors are missing, which make the generalization of results difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Usue de la Barrera
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Inmaculada Montoya-Castilla
- Department of Personality, Assessment and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail:
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30
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Braig S, Stalder T, Kirschbaum C, Rothenbacher D, Genuneit J. The association of potential stressors with hair steroids in parents with small children: The Ulm SPATZ health study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 102:37-43. [PMID: 30513498 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have reported weak associations between questionnaire-based stress measurements and hair steroids. A stronger relationship may exist in highly stressed subpopulations or with stress brought up by novel or unpredictable situations. In the Ulm SPATZ Health Study, conducted in Ulm, Germany, baseline recruitment 04/2012 to 05/2013, we analyzed data of families enrolled shortly after childbirth. Mothers completed standardized questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, health- and family-life-related factors, and the Screening Scale of the Trier Inventory of Chronic Stress (TICS) at 6 months (T2) and 12 months postpartum (T3). Their current partners completed SSCS-TICS and an Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI) Questionnaire obtained at 6 weeks postpartum (T1). Partners (n = 375 at T1) and mothers (n = 654 at T2 or T3) provided a 2 to 3-cm hair segment for hair analysis. Adjusted linear and cubic spline regressions were used to analyze (non-)linear relationships between potential stressors and hair cortisol (hairF) and hair cortisone (hairE) concentrations as well as the respective change scores between 12 months and 6 months. Lacking social recognition and high paternal work overload were significantly associated with paternal hairF in cubic spline models (test for overall association, chi2 = 8.24, p = 0.041, chi2 = 8.41, p = 0.038) but not in linear models. However, the association between ERI and hairF (chi2 = 7.54, p = 0.059) was marginally significant. Maternal education was related to maternal hairF and hairE at T2. No association was observed between maternal postpartum employment and hair steroids at T2 or T3. Conversely, we could show a relationship between some change scores of stress and hairE in mothers. Considering non-linearity and family-related stressors, there are few associations between questionnaire-based stress measurements and hairF or hairE. Novelty of stressors was not shown to be a relevant factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Braig
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - T Stalder
- Clinical Psychology, University of Siegen, Siegen, Germany
| | - C Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - D Rothenbacher
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - J Genuneit
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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31
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Smets E, De Raedt W, Van Hoof C. Into the Wild: The Challenges of Physiological Stress Detection in Laboratory and Ambulatory Settings. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2018; 23:463-473. [PMID: 30507517 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2018.2883751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Stress and mental health have become major concerns worldwide. Research has already extensively investigated physiological signals as quantitative and continuous markers of stress. In recent years, the focus of the field has shifted from the laboratory to the ambulatory environment. We provide an overview of physiological stress detection in laboratory settings with a focus on identifying physiological sensing priorities, including electrocardiogram, skin conductance, and electromyogram, and the most suitable machine learning techniques, of which the choice depends on the context of the application. Additionally, an overview is given of new challenges ahead to move toward the ambulant environment, including the influence of physical activity, lower signal quality due to motion artifacts, the lack of a stress reference, and the subject-dependent nature of the physiological stress response. Finally, several recommendations for future research are listed, focusing on large-scale, longitudinal trials across different population groups and just-in-time interventions to move toward disease prevention and interception.
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32
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Xu Y, Li J, Xie Q, Deng H. Hair cortisol levels and symptoms of anxiety and depression in Chinese adolescents: Comparison between incarcerated and community populations. Psych J 2018; 8:147-157. [DOI: 10.1002/pchj.248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Youyun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Special Children's Impairment and InterventionNanjing Normal University of Special Education Nanjing China
| | - Jifeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
| | - Qiaozhen Xie
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
| | - Huihua Deng
- Key Laboratory of Child Development and Learning Science (Southeast University), Ministry of Education, and Institute of Child Development and EducationSoutheast University Nanjing China
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Tung EL, Wroblewski KE, Boyd K, Makelarski JA, Peek ME, Lindau ST. Police-Recorded Crime and Disparities in Obesity and Blood Pressure Status in Chicago. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7:e008030. [PMID: 29574461 PMCID: PMC5907588 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.117.008030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to examine associations between several types of police-recorded crime (violent, nonviolent, and homicide) and cardiometabolic health (obesity and elevated blood pressure [BP]), and to determine if associations were modified by age and sex. METHODS AND RESULTS We analyzed cross-sectional data (N=14 799 patients) from 3 primary care clinics at an academic medical center in Chicago, IL. Patient-level health data were obtained from the electronic health record (June 1, 2014-May 31, 2015), including body mass index and BP, and linked to the City of Chicago Police Data Portal. Geocoded crime counts were aggregated to census tract and calculated as the annual crime rate per 1000 population. Generalized linear mixed models were used to assess obesity and BP status as a function of crime rate quartile, controlling for patient, clinic, and neighborhood characteristics. Median violent crime rates in each quartile ranged from 15 to 84 per 1000 population. Median age was 56 years (interquartile range, 38-72 years); 42% of patients were obese and 33% had elevated BP. Compared with patients living in the lowest quartile, patients living in the highest quartile for violent crime had 53% higher adjusted odds of obesity (95% confidence interval, 1.15-2.03) and 25% higher adjusted odds of elevated BP (95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.56). In subanalyses examining homicide, a relatively rare event, exposure was not associated with obesity and was inconsistently associated with elevated BP. CONCLUSIONS In a densely populated, high-poverty region in Chicago, recurrent exposure to high rates of violent crime was consistently associated with obesity and elevated BP, but rare exposure to homicide was not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Tung
- Section of General Internal Medicine and Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, University of Chicago, IL
| | | | - Kelly Boyd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, IL
| | | | - Monica E Peek
- Section of General Internal Medicine and Chicago Center for Diabetes Translation Research, University of Chicago, IL
- MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, IL
| | - Stacy Tessler Lindau
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, IL
- Department of Medicine-Geriatrics, MacLean Center on Clinical Medical Ethics and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Chicago, IL
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34
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van der Meij L, Gubbels N, Schaveling J, Almela M, van Vugt M. Hair cortisol and work stress: Importance of workload and stress model (JDCS or ERI). Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 89:78-85. [PMID: 29331802 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs) are a potential physiological indicator of work related stress. However, studies that tested the relationship between HCC and self-reported stress in a work setting show mixed findings. This may be because few studies used worker samples that experience prolonged stress. Therefore, we compared a high workload sample (n = 81) and a normal workload sample (n = 91) and studied whether HCC was related to: (i) high job demands, low control, and low social support (JDCS model), and (ii) high effort, low reward, and high overcommitment (ERI model). Results showed that self-reported stress related to HCC only in the high workload sample and only for the variables of the ERI model. We found that HCC was higher when effort was high, reward low, and overcommitment high. An implication of this study is that a certain stress threshold may need to be reached to detect a relationship between self-reported stress and physiological measures such as HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leander van der Meij
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
| | - Nikkie Gubbels
- Department of Education and Innovation, Inholland University of Applied Sciences, Haarlem, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Schaveling
- Centre for Leadership & Management Development, Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Breukelen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Mark van Vugt
- Department of Experimental and Applied Psychology and Institute for Brain and Behavior Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Herr RM, Almer C, Loerbroks A, Barrech A, Elfantel I, Siegrist J, Gündel H, Angerer P, Li J. Associations of work stress with hair cortisol concentrations - initial findings from a prospective study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 89:134-137. [PMID: 29414027 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 01/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
There is ample evidence supporting the link between stress at the workplace and physical and mental health. One of the pathways potentially mediating those associations may involve the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, with cortisol as an end product. While theoretically plausible, findings on the association of self-reported work stress with hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are inconclusive, being potentially biased by omitted pertinent factors. This issue can be addressed, among others, by eliminating time-invariant factors through consideration of variation within persons over time. To this end, the present study examined the association between variation in HCC and perceived work stress - as assessed by the Effort-Reward-Imbalance (ERI) model - between two points in time (t1 and t2) over one year in a sample of 40 male factory workers. Neither a cross-sectional association, nor a link between change in ERI and HCC levels at t2 was observed. There was however a robust association of the change in ERI with the change of HCC. This effect was independent of baseline HCC and other confounders (Beta = 0.414, S.E. = 0.155, p = 0.012). Accordingly, this is the first study revealing prospective evidence for the associations of work stress with HCC, while excluding potentially time-stable confounding factors, like genetic factors or phenotypic hair color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael M Herr
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Christian Almer
- Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Adrian Loerbroks
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Amira Barrech
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Irina Elfantel
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Johannes Siegrist
- Senior Professorship on Work Stress Research, Life Science Center, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jian Li
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Abstract
In the current study, we present data investigating the relationships among stress, sleep disturbance, self-control, and levels of cortisol (CORT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in fingernail clippings. Currently, hair CORT is the only routinely used noninvasive, validated, biomarker of chronic exposure to stress-related hormones. Nail clippings represent an important potential alternative sample matrix for assessing chronic hormone exposure, as it offers a different timeline of hormone incorporation than scalp hair, and may be obtainable from populations in which hair either is lacking or is unavailable for cultural reasons. Moreover, there is established precedent for using fingernail clippings to attain biomarker data. However, the value of nail hormone assessment for psychological research is currently unknown due to a paucity of information on the relations between nail hormone concentrations and environmental or psychological variables. In the present study, we collected data from a low income, minority population (N = 47; 97% African American) to demonstrate feasibility and acceptability of nail collection and analysis of the adrenal steroids CORT and DHEA. Participants reported on perceived stress, sleep and self-control abilities. Correlational analyses suggest that exposure to stressful events, disturbances in sleep and waking were associated with higher levels of nail DHEA, while self-control was associated with higher levels of nail CORT. We discuss the potential importance of this methodology for investigating biological, behavioral, and subjective indices of stress and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey N Doan
- a Department of Psychology , Claremont McKenna College , Claremont , CA , USA
| | - Gerrit DeYoung
- b School of Education , Boston University , Boston , MA , USA
| | | | - Cindy Liu
- d BIDMC-Mass. Mental Health Center , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Jerrold Meyer
- e Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Massachusetts , Amherst , MA , USA
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A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model of Workplace Stress and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Measures of Stress. Psychosom Med 2018; 80:103-113. [PMID: 28731983 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The association between effort-reward imbalance (ERI) and various health outcomes has been well documented over the past 20 years, but the mechanisms responsible for this association remain unclear. The present meta-analysis assessed the associations of ERI and overcommitment (OC) in the workplace with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis measures. METHODS Electronic databases were searched with the phrase "effort*reward*imbalance," which yielded 319 studies leading to 56 full-text studies being screened. Thirty-two studies within 14 articles met inclusion criteria and were meta-analyzed using mixed and random effects models. RESULTS Greater ERI was associated with increased HPA axis activity (r = .09, p < .001, k = 14, N = 2541). The cortisol awakening response (r = .14, p < .001, k = 9, N = 584) and cortisol waking concentrations (r = .12, p = .01, k = 6, N = 493) were the only HPA measures associated with ERI. OC was also associated with greater HPA axis activity (r = .06, p < .01, k = 10, N = 1918). Cortisol (PM) (r = .13, p = .02, k = 3, N = 295) was the only HPA measure associated with OC. CONCLUSIONS ERI and OC were similarly related with HPA responsivity. However, because OC moderated the relationship between ERI and HPA axis markers, the importance of OC should not be overlooked. Because OC is likely more malleable than ERI to intervention, this may be a promising avenue for future research.
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Assessment of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor in hair to study stress responses: A pilot investigation. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 86:134-143. [PMID: 28957772 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
To study pathogenic stress-effects in health and disease, it is paramount to define easy access parameters for non-invasive analysis of biological change in response to stress. Hair samples successfully provide this access for the study of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) changes. In this study, we assess the hair expression and corresponding epigenetic changes of a neurotrophin essential for autonomic nervous system function and mental health: brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In three independent studies in healthy academic volunteers (study I: German students, N=36; study II, German academic population sample, N=28; study III: Mexican students, N=115), BDNF protein expression or BDNF gene (BDNF) histone acetylation was determined. Simultaneously, mental distress and distress-associated somatic complaints were assessed by self-report. In study I, we found a negative correlation between hair-BDNF protein level and hair-cortisol as well as between hair-BDNF and somatic complaints, while hair-cortisol correlated positively with mental distress. In study II, we found a negative correlation between H4 histone acetylation at the BDNF gene P4-promoter and somatic complaints. Regression analysis confirmed confounder stability of associations in both studies. In study III, we confirmed study I and found lower hair-BDNF protein level in volunteers with high somatic complaints, who also reported higher mental distress during the end of term exams. The results indicate that BDNF protein levels can be detected in clipped hair and are associated with somatic complaints and stress in life. In addition, we concluded that plucked hair can provide material for the study of epigenetic changes in stress-affected tissues. These tools can prove valuable for future studies on distress, both under experimental and field conditions.
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Siegrist J, Li J. Work Stress and Altered Biomarkers: A Synthesis of Findings Based on the Effort-Reward Imbalance Model. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E1373. [PMID: 29125555 PMCID: PMC5708012 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
While epidemiological studies provide statistical evidence on associations of exposures such as stressful work with elevated risks of stress-related disorders (e.g., coronary heart disease or depression), additional information on biological pathways and biomarkers underlying these associations is required. In this contribution, we summarize the current state of the art on research findings linking stressful work, in terms of an established theoretical model-effort-reward imbalance-with a broad range of biomarkers. Based on structured electronic literature search and recent available systematic reviews, our synthesis of findings indicates that associations of work stress with heart rate variability, altered blood lipids, and risk of metabolic syndrome are rather consistent and robust. Significant relationships with blood pressure, heart rate, altered immune function and inflammation, cortisol release, and haemostatic biomarkers were also observed, but due to conflicting findings additional data will be needed to reach a firm conclusion. This narrative review of empirical evidence supports the argument that the biomarkers under study can act as mediators of epidemiologically established associations of work stress, as measured by effort-reward imbalance, with incident stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Siegrist
- Life Science Centre, University of Düsseldorf, Merowingerplatz 1a, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Jian Li
- Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Roe JJ, Aspinall PA, Ward Thompson C. Coping with Stress in Deprived Urban Neighborhoods: What Is the Role of Green Space According to Life Stage? Front Psychol 2017; 8:1760. [PMID: 29093689 PMCID: PMC5651820 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
This study follows previous research showing how green space quantity and contact with nature (via access to gardens/allotments) helps mitigate stress in people living in deprived urban environments (Ward Thompson et al., 2016). However, little is known about how these environments aid stress mitigation nor how stress levels vary in a population experiencing higher than average stress. This study used Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to, first, identify latent health clusters in the same population (n = 406) and, second, to relate health cluster membership to variables of interest, including four hypothetical stress coping scenarios. Results showed a three-cluster model best fit the data, with membership to health clusters differentiated by age, perceived stress, general health, and subjective well-being. The clusters were labeled by the primary health outcome (i.e., perceived stress) and age group (1) Low-stress Youth characterized by ages 16-24; (2) Low-stress Seniors characterized by ages 65+ and (3) High-stress Mid-Age characterized by ages 25-44. Next, LCA identified that health membership was significantly related to four hypothetical stress coping scenarios set in people's current residential context: "staying at home" and three scenarios set outwith the home, "seeking peace and quiet," "going for a walk" or "seeking company." Stress coping in Low stress Youth is characterized by "seeking company" and "going for a walk"; stress coping in Low-stress Seniors and High stress Mid-Age is characterized by "staying at home." Finally, LCA identified significant relationships between health cluster membership and a range of demographic, other individual and environmental variables including access to, use of and perceptions of local green space. Our study found that the opportunities in the immediate neighborhood for stress reduction vary by age. Stress coping in youth is likely supported by being social and keeping physically active outdoors, including local green space visits. By contrast, local green space appears not to support stress regulation in young-middle aged and older adults, who choose to stay at home. We conclude that it is important to understand the complexities of stress management and the opportunities offered by local green space for stress mitigation by age and other demographic variables, such as gender.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny J. Roe
- Center for Design and Health, School of Architecture, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Peter A. Aspinall
- OPENspace Research Centre, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Fritz H, Tarraf W, Saleh DJ, Cutchin MP. Using a Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Protocol With Community Dwelling Older African Americans. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2017; 72:876-887. [PMID: 28057696 PMCID: PMC5927156 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbw166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Little is known about the feasibility of smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) approaches to collect psychosocial data from older populations, especially disadvantaged older populations. In response to this gap, this report provides evidence of the feasibility and utility of a smartphone-based EMA approach for real-time assessment with older African Americans. In addition, we share lessons learned about how to improve utility. METHODS Ninety-seven older African Americans ages 55 and older (range: 55-95 years) used an Android smartphone loaded with an EMA application to provide data about their everyday activities and stress four times per day for seven consecutive days. RESULTS Exit interviews early in the study suggested enhancements to the EMA interface. Adherence was demonstrated with response completion rates of 92-98% on EMA measures and no participant attrition based on the EMA protocol. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest using a smartphone-based EMA approach for data collection is feasible and has utility with older African Americans. We most likely enhanced adherence by testing, training, monitoring, and adapting the EMA protocol using input from older adults early in the EMA design process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Fritz
- Department of Health Care Sciences
- Institute of Gerontology
| | - Wassim Tarraf
- Department of Health Care Sciences
- Institute of Gerontology
| | - Dan J Saleh
- Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
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Herr RM, Barrech A, Gündel H, Lang J, Quinete NS, Angerer P, Li J. Effects of psychosocial work characteristics on hair cortisol - findings from a post-trial study. Stress 2017; 20:363-370. [PMID: 28595512 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1340452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged work stress, as indicated by the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, jeopardizes health. Cortisol represents a candidate mechanism connecting stress to ill health. However, previous findings appear inconclusive, and recommendations were made to assess work stress at multiple time points and also to investigate ERI (sub-)components. This study therefore examines the effects of two single time points, as well as the mean and change scores between time points of ERI and its components on hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a long-term cortisol measurement. Participants were 66 male factory workers (age: 40.68 ± 6.74 years; HCC: 9.00 ± 7.11 pg/mg), who were followed up after a stress management intervention (2006-2008). In 2008 (T1) and 2015 (T2), participants completed a 23-item ERI questionnaire, assessing effort, the three reward components (esteem, job security, job promotion) and over-commitment. In 2015, participants also provided a 3-cm hair segment close to the scalp for HCC analysis, as well as information on relevant confounders (i.e. medication intake, age, work characteristics, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors, number of stressful life events). Linear regressions revealed hardly any cross-sectional or longitudinal effect of ERI and its components on HCC. Only the change scores between T1 and T2 of job security were negatively associated with lower HCC in unadjusted (β = -.320; p = .009) and adjusted (β = -.288; p = .044) models. In this study, only a decrease of perceived job security over time was significantly associated with higher HCC, and other predictors were not related to this outcome. Especially after correction for multiple testing, this study revealed just a weak association of different psychosocial work measurements with HCC. Lay summary This study showed that an increase in perceived job insecurity is correlated with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The higher levels of cortisol might represent a biological explanation for the negative health effects of job insecurity. The association was, however, relatively low, and more and more voices are questioning whether cortisol in hair is a reliable marker for perceived work stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael M Herr
- a Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany
- b Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim , Heidelberg University , Mannheim , Germany
| | - Amira Barrech
- a Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany
- c Department of Psychosomatic Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Harald Gündel
- c Department of Psychosomatic Medicine , University of Ulm , Ulm , Germany
| | - Jessica Lang
- d Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine , RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany
| | - Natalia Soares Quinete
- d Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine , RWTH Aachen University , Aachen , Germany
| | - Peter Angerer
- a Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany
| | - Jian Li
- a Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine , Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf , Düsseldorf , Germany
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Villanueva L, Montoya-Castilla I, Prado-Gascó V. The importance of trait emotional intelligence and feelings in the prediction of perceived and biological stress in adolescents: hierarchical regressions and fsQCA models. Stress 2017; 20:355-362. [PMID: 28595502 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1340451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the combined effects of trait emotional intelligence (EI) and feelings on healthy adolescents' stress. Identifying the extent to which adolescent stress varies with trait emotional differences and the feelings of adolescents is of considerable interest in the development of intervention programs for fostering youth well-being. To attain this goal, self-reported questionnaires (perceived stress, trait EI, and positive/negative feelings) and biological measures of stress (hair cortisol concentrations, HCC) were collected from 170 adolescents (12-14 years old). Two different methodologies were conducted, which included hierarchical regression models and a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The results support trait EI as a protective factor against stress in healthy adolescents and suggest that feelings reinforce this relation. However, the debate continues regarding the possibility of optimal levels of trait EI for effective and adaptive emotional management, particularly in the emotional attention and clarity dimensions and for female adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidón Villanueva
- a Developmental Psychology Department , Universitat Jaume I , Castellón , Spain
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Peters EMJ, Müller Y, Snaga W, Fliege H, Reißhauer A, Schmidt-Rose T, Max H, Schweiger D, Rose M, Kruse J. Hair and stress: A pilot study of hair and cytokine balance alteration in healthy young women under major exam stress. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175904. [PMID: 28423056 PMCID: PMC5397031 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models show that experimental stress mimicking prolonged life-stress exposure enhances neurogenic inflammation, induces adaptive immunity cytokine-imbalance characterized by a shift to Type 1 T-helper cell cytokines and increases apoptosis of epithelial cells. This affects hair growth in otherwise healthy animals. In this study, we investigate whether a prolonged naturalistic life-stress exposure affects cytokine balance and hair parameters in healthy humans. 33 (18 exam, 15 comparison) female medical students with comparable sociobiological status were analyzed during a stressful final examination period, at three points in time (T) 12 weeks apart. T1 was before start of the learning period, T2 between the three-day written exam and an oral examination, and T3 after a 12 week rest and recovery from the stress of the examination period. Assessments included: self-reported distress and coping strategies (Perceived Stress Questionnaire [PSQ], Trier Inventory for the Assessment of Chronic Stress [TICS]), COPE), cytokines in supernatants of stimulated peripheral blood mononucleocytes (PBMCs), and trichogram (hair cycle and pigmentation analysis). Comparison between students participating in the final medical exam at T2 and non-exam students, revealed significantly higher stress perception in exam students. Time-wise comparison revealed that stress level, TH1/TH2 cytokine balance and hair parameters changed significantly from T1 to T2 in the exam group, but not the control. However, no group differences were found for cytokine balance or hair parameters at T2. The study concludes that in humans, naturalistic stress, as perceived during participation in a major medical exam, has the potential to shift the immune response to TH1 and transiently hamper hair growth, but these changes stay within a physiological range. Findings are instructive for patients suffering from hair loss in times of high stress. Replication in larger and more diverse sample populations is required, to assess suitability of trichogram analysis as biological outcome for stress studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva M. J. Peters
- Universitätsmedizin Charité, Center 12 for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division for General Internal Medicine, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy: Psycho-Neuro-Immunology Skin Research Group, Berlin, Germany
- Justus-Liebig-University, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Gießen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Yvonne Müller
- Justus-Liebig-University, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Gießen, Germany
| | - Wenke Snaga
- Universitätsmedizin Charité, Center 12 for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division for General Internal Medicine, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy: Psycho-Neuro-Immunology Skin Research Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Herbert Fliege
- Foreign Office, Health Service, Psychosocial Counseling, Auswärtiges Amt, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anett Reißhauer
- Universitätsmedizin Charité, Center 12 for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Matthias Rose
- Universitätsmedizin Charité, Center 12 for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division for General Internal Medicine, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy: Psycho-Neuro-Immunology Skin Research Group, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johannes Kruse
- Justus-Liebig-University, Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, Psychoneuroimmunology Laboratory, Gießen, Germany
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Burke LE, Shiffman S, Music E, Styn MA, Kriska A, Smailagic A, Siewiorek D, Ewing LJ, Chasens E, French B, Mancino J, Mendez D, Strollo P, Rathbun SL. Ecological Momentary Assessment in Behavioral Research: Addressing Technological and Human Participant Challenges. J Med Internet Res 2017; 19:e77. [PMID: 28298264 PMCID: PMC5371716 DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Revised: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) assesses individuals’ current experiences, behaviors, and moods as they occur in real time and in their natural environment. EMA studies, particularly those of longer duration, are complex and require an infrastructure to support the data flow and monitoring of EMA completion. Objective Our objective is to provide a practical guide to developing and implementing an EMA study, with a focus on the methods and logistics of conducting such a study. Methods The EMPOWER study was a 12-month study that used EMA to examine the triggers of lapses and relapse following intentional weight loss. We report on several studies that informed the implementation of the EMPOWER study: (1) a series of pilot studies, (2) the EMPOWER study’s infrastructure, (3) training of study participants in use of smartphones and the EMA protocol and, (4) strategies used to enhance adherence to completing EMA surveys. Results The study enrolled 151 adults and had 87.4% (132/151) retention rate at 12 months. Our learning experiences in the development of the infrastructure to support EMA assessments for the 12-month study spanned several topic areas. Included were the optimal frequency of EMA prompts to maximize data collection without overburdening participants; the timing and scheduling of EMA prompts; technological lessons to support a longitudinal study, such as proper communication between the Android smartphone, the Web server, and the database server; and use of a phone that provided access to the system’s functionality for EMA data collection to avoid loss of data and minimize the impact of loss of network connectivity. These were especially important in a 1-year study with participants who might travel. It also protected the data collection from any server-side failure. Regular monitoring of participants’ response to EMA prompts was critical, so we built in incentives to enhance completion of EMA surveys. During the first 6 months of the 12-month study interval, adherence to completing EMA surveys was high, with 88.3% (66,978/75,888) completion of random assessments and around 90% (23,411/25,929 and 23,343/26,010) completion of time-contingent assessments, despite the duration of EMA data collection and challenges with implementation. Conclusions This work informed us of the necessary preliminary steps to plan and prepare a longitudinal study using smartphone technology and the critical elements to ensure participant engagement in the potentially burdensome protocol, which spanned 12 months. While this was a technology-supported and -programmed study, it required close oversight to ensure all elements were functioning correctly, particularly once human participants became involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lora E Burke
- Department of Health & Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Saul Shiffman
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Edvin Music
- Department of Health & Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Mindi A Styn
- Department of Health & Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Andrea Kriska
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Asim Smailagic
- Institute for Complex Engineered Systems, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Daniel Siewiorek
- Human Computer Interaction Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Linda J Ewing
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Eileen Chasens
- Department of Health & Community Systems, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Brian French
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, United States
| | - Juliet Mancino
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Dara Mendez
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Patrick Strollo
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Stephen L Rathbun
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia College of Public Health, Athens, GA, United States
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Gerber M, Endes K, Brand S, Herrmann C, Colledge F, Donath L, Faude O, Pühse U, Hanssen H, Zahner L. In 6- to 8-year-old children, hair cortisol is associated with body mass index and somatic complaints, but not with stress, health-related quality of life, blood pressure, retinal vessel diameters, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2017; 76:1-10. [PMID: 27865992 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hair cortisol measurement has become an increasingly accepted approach in endocrinology and biopsychology. However, while in adult research hair cortisol has been proposed as a relevant biomarker for chronic stress (and its adverse consequences), studies with children are scarce. Therefore, the goal of the present exploratory study was to examine the associations between hair cortisol concentrations (HCCs), stress, and a series of health-related outcomes in a sample of Swiss first grade schoolchildren. METHODS The sample consisted of 318 children (53% girls, Mage=7.26, SD=0.35). Hair strands were taken near the scalp from a posterior vertex position, and HCCs were tested for the first 3-cm hair segment. Parents provided information about their children's age, gender, parental education, children's stress (recent critical life events, daily hassles), health-related quality of life, and psychosomatic complaints. Body composition, blood pressure, retinal vessel diameters, and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured with established methods. RESULTS In multiple regression analyses, higher HCCs were weakly associated with increased BMI in girls (β=0.22, p<0.001), whereas higher HCCs were associated with increased somatic complaints in boys (β=0.20, p<0.05). No significant relationships were found between HCCs and parental reports of stress, health-related quality of life, blood pressure, retinal vessel diameters, and cardiorespiratory fitness. CONCLUSIONS Although small significant relationships were found between HCCs, BMI and somatic complaints, the findings of this exploratory study challenge the view that HCCs can be used as a reliable biomarker of recent critical life events, daily hassles, health-related quality of life, and cardiovascular health indicators in non-clinical young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Gerber
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Katharina Endes
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Serge Brand
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland; Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Basel, Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders, Switzerland
| | - Christian Herrmann
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Flora Colledge
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lars Donath
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Faude
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Uwe Pühse
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Henner Hanssen
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Zahner
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
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47
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Geng L, Xiang P, Yang J, Shen H, Sang Z. Association between hair cortisol concentration and perceived stress in female methamphetamine addicts. J Psychosom Res 2016; 91:82-86. [PMID: 27894467 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aims to explore whether hair cortisol concentration is associated with explicit stress or implicit stress in female methamphetamine addicts. METHODS Hair samples were collected from 51 female methamphetamine addicts from inpatient addiction treatment programs. Perceived stress was assessed by both explicit and implicit measures through the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Implicit Association Test (IAT), respectively. RESULTS The positive relationship between hair cortisol concentration with D-scores of the IAT reached statistically significant difference. A marginal correlation between hair cortisol concentration and scores of the PSS was observed. Additionally, linear regression analysis indicated that D-scores of the IAT are strongly predictive of hair cortisol concentration. CONCLUSION Hair cortisol concentration is strongly related to implicit stress but only weakly related with explicit stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuna Geng
- Department of Psychology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Peng Xiang
- Department of Psychology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Yang
- Research Centre for Learning Science, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Department of Social Work and Policy, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiqin Sang
- Department of Psychology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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48
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Correlation of emotional labor and cortisol concentration in hair among female kindergarten teachers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2016; 90:117-122. [DOI: 10.1007/s00420-016-1179-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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