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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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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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Deter HC, Orth-Gomér K, Rauch-Kröhnert U, Albus C, Ladwig KH, Söllner W, de Zwaan M, Grün AS, Ronel J, Hellmich M, Herrmann-Lingen C, Weber C. Depression, anxiety, and vital exhaustion are associated with pro-coagulant markers in depressed patients with coronary artery disease - A cross sectional and prospective secondary analysis of the SPIRR-CAD trial. J Psychosom Res 2021; 151:110659. [PMID: 34763203 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A hyper-coagulant state is a biological mechanism that triggers cardiac events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Depressive symptoms and anxiety predict an unfavourable course of CAD. The SPIRR-CAD-RCT examined the effects of a psychological intervention and provided the opportunity to explore cross-sectional associations between indices of psychological strain and coagulation parameters, as well as prospective changes in depression scores and coagulation parameters. METHODS In this secondary analysis, we investigated 253 CAD patients (194 male; age m 58.9, SD 8.3 yrs.) with mild to moderate depression (≥8 on the HADS-D) at baseline and at follow-up 18 months later: TF, fibrinogen, D-dimer, VWF, FVII and PAI-1 and the course of depression (HAM-D), vital exhaustion (VE) and anxiety scores (HADS-A) were examined by ANOVA in the total and younger age groups (≤ 60). RESULTS HAM-D at baseline was correlated with TF (corr. R2 = 0.27; F = 9.31, p = 0.001). HADS anxiety was associated with fibrinogen (corr. R2.20; F = 7.27, p = 0.001). There was no detectable therapeutic effect on coagulation. Fibrinogen and VWF decreased within 18 months (time effect; p = 0.02; p = 0.04), as did HADS-D in both treatment groups (p < 0.001). Fibrinogen decreased more in patients ≤60 years with high VE compared to low VE (interaction time x group, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to show an association between TF and depression. Coagulation parameters as potential mediators of CAD progression correlated cross-sectionally with depression and anxiety and prospectively with VE. Further studies should replicate these correlations in depressed and non-depressed CAD patients. ISRCTN 76240576; clinicaltrials.gov.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Christian Deter
- Medical Clinic, Psychosomatics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Germany.
| | | | - Ursula Rauch-Kröhnert
- Medical Clinic, Cardiology and Pulmonology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Germany
| | - Christian Albus
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Karl-Heinz Ladwig
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München (TUM), German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Söllner
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Germany
| | - Martina de Zwaan
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Anna-Sophia Grün
- Medical Clinic, Psychosomatics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Germany
| | - Joram Ronel
- Klinik Barmelweid, Switzerland; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Martin Hellmich
- Clinical Trials Center Cologne, Institute for Medical Statistics, Informatic und Epidemiology (IMSIE), University of Cologne, Germany
| | - Christoph Herrmann-Lingen
- Dept. of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen Medical Center, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cora Weber
- Medical Clinic, Psychosomatics, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The construct of vital exhaustion has been identified as a potential independent psychological risk factor for incident and recurrent coronary heart disease (CHD). Despite several decades of research, no systematic review or meta-analysis has previously attempted to collate the empirical evidence in this field. The purpose of this study was to review and quantify the impact of vital exhaustion on the development and progression of CHD. METHODS Prospective and case-control studies reporting vital exhaustion at baseline and CHD outcomes at follow-up were derived from PubMed, PsycINFO (1980 to July 2015; articles in English and published articles only), and bibliographies. Information on aim, study design, sample size, inclusion and exclusion criteria, assessment methods of psychological risk factors, and results of crude and adjusted regression analyses were abstracted independently by two authors. RESULTS Thirteen prospective (n = 52,636) and three case-control (cases, n = 244; controls, n = 457) studies assessed vital exhaustion and could be summarized in meta-analyses. The pooled adjusted risk of CHD in healthy populations was 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-1.85) for prospective studies, and 2.61 (95% CI = 1.66-4.10) for case-control studies using hospital controls. Risk of recurrent events in patients with CHD was 2.03 (95% CI = 1.54-2.68). The pooled adjusted risk of chronic heart failure in healthy populations was 1.37 (95% CI = 1.21-1.56), but this was based on results from only two studies. CONCLUSIONS Vital exhaustion is associated with increased risk of incident and recurrent CHD.
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Strizhakov LA, Lebedeva MV, Fomin VV, Muhin NA. Occupational factors and a risk of cardiovascular diseases. TERAPEVT ARKH 2016. [DOI: 10.17116/terarkh2016889125-130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The paper gives Russian and foreign authors’ data on a relationship between occupational factors and cardiovascular diseases. It considers the impact of psychosocial stress on the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cardiovascular events in representatives of different professional groups.
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Association of fibrinogen with severity of stable coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus. DISEASE MARKERS 2014; 2014:485687. [PMID: 24803720 PMCID: PMC3997864 DOI: 10.1155/2014/485687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Background. Some studies have suggested a relation of plasma fibrinogen to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). However, whether plasma fibrinogen can predict the presence and severity of CAD in patients with diabetes mellitus has not been determined. Methods. A total of consecutive 373 diabetic patients with typical angina pectoris who received coronary angiography were enrolled and classified into three groups by tertiles of Gensini score (GS, low group <8; intermediate group 8~28; high group >28). The relationship between fibrinogen and GS was evaluated. Results. There were correlations of fibrinogen with hemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein, and GS (r = 0.17, r = 0.52, and r = 0.21, resp.; all P < 0.001). Area under the receivers operating characteristic curve of fibrinogen was 0.62 (95% CI 0.56–0.68, P < 0.001) for predicting a high GS. Multivariate analysis suggested that plasma fibrinogen was an independent predictor of a high GS for diabetic patients (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.04–1.88, and P = 0.026) after adjusting for traditional risk factors of CAD. Conclusions. The present data indicated that plasma fibrinogen, a readily measurable systematic inflammatory marker, appeared to be an independent predictor for the severity of CAD in diabetic patients.
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Miller PS, Evangelista LS, Giger JN, Dracup K, Doering LV. Clinical and socio-demographic predictors of postoperative vital exhaustion in patients after cardiac surgery. Heart Lung 2013; 42:98-104. [PMID: 23453010 PMCID: PMC4455925 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2013.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Vital exhaustion, a psychological state characterized by extreme fatigue, is an independent predictor of future cardiac events. However, the attributes of vital exhaustion following coronary artery bypass (CABG) surgery are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE The study objective was to assess correlates of vital exhaustion following CABG surgery. METHODS In a descriptive, exploratory study, 42 patients who had CABG surgery were evaluated for exhaustion 4-8 weeks post-hospital discharge. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from self-report and medical chart review. RESULTS Of the total sample (mean age 67.9 ± 12.5, 90% male, 70% Caucasian, 3.12 ± 1.3 grafts), approximately 41% reported exhaustion. When compared to their exhausted post-CABG counterpart, non-exhausted post-CABG patients had a significantly higher frequency of preoperative insulin use. Exhausted patients were significantly more likely to have higher left ventricular ejection fraction ([LVEF], OR: 1.07, p = 0.04), and elevated hemoglobin (OR: 2.98, p = 0.03) and eosinophils (OR: 1.02, p = 0.02) than those who were not exhausted. CONCLUSION Clinicians should evaluate all patients for exhaustion post-CABG surgery; patients with elevated LVEF, hemoglobin, and eosinophil levels warrant increased scrutiny.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela S. Miller
- Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, N411Y, Box 0606, San Francisco, California, USA 94143-0606
| | - Lorraine S. Evangelista
- Associate Professor, Program in Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine, 231 Irvine Hall, Irvine, California, USA 92697-3959
| | - Joyce Newman Giger
- Professor, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles BOX 956919, 5-234 Factor Los Angeles, California, USA, 90095-6919
| | - Kathleen Dracup
- Professor, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, 2 Koret Way, N631, Box 0610, San Francisco, California, USA 94143-0610
| | - Lynn V. Doering
- Professor, School of Nursing, University of California, Los Angeles BOX 956918, 4-250 Factor Los Angeles, California, USA, 90095-6918
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Bellingrath S, Rohleder N, Kudielka BM. Effort-reward-imbalance in healthy teachers is associated with higher LPS-stimulated production and lower glucocorticoid sensitivity of interleukin-6 in vitro. Biol Psychol 2012; 92:403-9. [PMID: 23246534 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Revised: 11/30/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) model, a lack of reciprocity between costs and gains at work increases the risk for adverse health outcomes. Inflammation has been shown to play a crucial role in a variety of stress-related diseases and alterations in immune system glucocorticoid sensitivity may help to explain the increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and depression related to chronic work stress. METHODS Changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced interleukin (IL)-6 production and inhibition of IL-6 production by dexamethasone in reaction to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) were assessed in forty-six healthy school teachers to test whether chronic work stress is accompanied by alterations in inflammatory activity and glucocorticoid sensitivity of the innate immune system. RESULTS High ERI was associated with an increase in pro-inflammatory potential, reflected in elevated IL-6 production before and after stress and with a lower capacity of dexamethasone to suppress IL-6 production in vitro over all measurement time points. ERI was not associated with stress-related changes in GC sensitivity. CONCLUSION The present findings suggest a less effective anti-inflammatory regulation by glucocorticoids in teachers suffering from chronic work stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Bellingrath
- Institute of Psychology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Berliner Platz 6-8, 45127 Essen, Germany.
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Shirom A, Toker S, Melamed S, Berliner S, Shapira I. Burnout and vigor as predictors of the incidence of hyperlipidemia among healthy employees. Appl Psychol Health Well Being 2012; 5:79-98. [PMID: 23457085 DOI: 10.1111/j.1758-0854.2012.01071.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We examined the effects of burnout and vigor on the incidence of hyperlipidemia. Based on the bivariate theoretical approach to negative and positive affects and on past studies on the prediction of blood lipids by burnout and vigor, we expected increases from Time 1 (T1) to Time 2 (T2) in burnout levels to be associated with an increase in the risk for hyperlipidemia and T1-T2 increases in vigor levels to be associated with a decrease in the risk of hyperlipidemia. Our sample consisted of 3,337 healthy employees (2,214 men and 1,123 women) who were followed up for about 27 months on average. Burnout and vigor were assessed by well-validated multiple-item instruments. We used logistic regressions and controlled for variables associated with blood lipids as well as with vigor and burnout. We cross-validated all self-reported hyperlipidemia by their T2 lipids levels. As expected, we found that T1-T2 increases in vigor levels were associated with a decreased risk of hyperlipidemia. However, the T1-T2 change in burnout levels was marginally significant (p = .06) in predicting hyperlipidemia. We consider our finding that vigor and burnout are independently associated with the risk of hyperlipidemia as providing support for the bivariate approach to affective states. In addition, our major finding suggests a possible mechanism via which vigor influences physical health outcomes.
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Filaire E, Larue J, Portier H, Abed A, Graziella PD, Teixeira A, Anne P. Lecturing to 200 students and its effects on cytokine concentration and salivary markers of adrenal activation. Stress Health 2011; 27:e25-35. [PMID: 27486621 DOI: 10.1002/smi.1332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Stress not only activates the SAM system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes, but also the immune system. The aims of this study are to assess the physiological variations in saliva (cytokines, cortisol and alpha-amylase) and perceived stress in professors when they had to lecture to 200 students. A total of eight unstimulated saliva samples were collected from nine professors: four on a working day that included the lecture and four controls on a working day without a lecture. The professors also rated subjective stress on a seven-point scale 5 min before the lecture, immediately after the lecture and at the same times on the control day. The lecture elicited substantial increases in subjective stress ratings, with the values on the lecture day significantly higher than those on the control day. Lecturing resulted in significant increases in Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, Interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 concentrations, but did not affect the IL-10 values. These changes appeared to be concomitant with changes in the concentrations of the stress markers, alpha-amylase and cortisol. The mechanisms by which psychosocial stress can induce cytokine changes and modify the activity of salivary alpha-amylase are not entirely understood, and further research is thus warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith Filaire
- INSERM U 658, IPROS., University of Orléans, Orléans Cedex, France.
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Goldman-Mellor S, Brydon L, Steptoe A. Psychological distress and circulating inflammatory markers in healthy young adults. Psychol Med 2010; 40:2079-2087. [PMID: 20219150 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291710000267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although a substantial body of research points to a link between psychological distress and inflammatory responses in middle-aged and older adults, particularly those with cardiovascular disease, the relationship between inflammation and distress in young, healthy individuals has not been established. This study was designed to investigate the cross-sectional association between psychological distress and inflammatory proteins in a young, healthy representative population of English adults. METHOD Participants were 1338 individuals aged 16-34 years from the 2006 Health Survey for England (HSE). Blood samples to measure plasma fibrinogen and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), as well as measures of psychological distress (using the General Health Questionnaire 12-item scale, GHQ-12) and covariates, were collected during home visits. Linear regression was used to assess the relationship between psychological distress and fibrinogen and hsCRP. RESULTS Higher self-rated distress was positively associated with fibrinogen level in this young population, independently of age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, smoking, and alcohol and medication use (β=0.024, p<0.01). Psychological distress was not related to hsCRP. CONCLUSIONS Psychological distress may negatively impact inflammatory processes in young adulthood before the onset of chronic health problems such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Longitudinal research is needed to elucidate the relationship between distress and inflammation in young adults and its significance for later disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Goldman-Mellor
- Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-7358, USA.
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Association of vital exhaustion and depressive symptoms with changes in fibrin D-dimer to acute psychosocial stress. J Psychosom Res 2009; 67:93-101. [PMID: 19539823 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2008] [Revised: 11/18/2008] [Accepted: 12/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vital exhaustion and depression are psychosocial risk factors of coronary artery disease. A hypercoagulable state in response to acute psychosocial stress contributes to atherothrombotic events. We aimed to investigate the hypothesis that vital exhaustion and depression correlate with stress-induced changes in the hypercoagulability marker D-dimer. METHODS Thirty-eight healthy and nonsmoking school teachers (mean age 50+/-8 years, 55% women) completed the nine-item Maastricht Vital Exhaustion Questionnaire and the seven-item depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Within 1 week, subjects twice underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (i.e., preparation phase, mock job interview, and mental arithmetic that totaled 13 min). Plasma D-dimer levels were determined at five time points during the protocol. RESULTS Vital exhaustion (P=.022; eta(2)=.080) and depressive symptoms (P=.011; eta(2)=.090) were associated with stress-induced changes in D-dimer levels over time controlling for sex and age. Elevated levels of vital exhaustion (r=-.46, P=.005) and of depression (r=-.51, P=.002) correlated with reduced D-dimer increase from pre-stress to immediately post-stress. Also, elevated vital exhaustion (r=.34, P=.044) and depression (r=.41, P=.013) were associated with increase (i.e., attenuated recovery) of D-dimer levels between 20 and 45 min post-stress. Controlling for stress hormone and blood pressure reactivity did not substantially alter these results. CONCLUSION The findings suggest an attenuated immediate D-dimer stress response and delayed recovery of D-dimer levels post-stress with elevated vital exhaustion and depressive symptoms. In particular, the prolonged hypercoagulability after stress cessation might contribute to the atherothrombotic risk previously observed with vital exhaustion and depression, even at subclinical levels.
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Bellingrath S, Kudielka BM. Effort-reward-imbalance and overcommitment are associated with hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to acute psychosocial stress in healthy working schoolteachers. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2008; 33:1335-43. [PMID: 18774231 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2008] [Revised: 07/16/2008] [Accepted: 07/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In this study, we examined HPA axis responses to acute psychosocial stress in relation to effort-reward-imbalance (ERI) and overcommitment (OC) to test whether chronic stress at work is accompanied by altered HPA axis stress responses in teachers. According to Siegrist's work stress model, ERI reflects stress due to a lack of reciprocity between personal costs and gains at work, whereas OC is conceptualized as a personality trait mainly characterized by the inability to withdraw from work obligations. Fifty-three medication-free, non-smoking, healthy teachers (33 women, 20 men, 29-63 years, mean age 49.9+/-8.58 years) were confronted with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a widely used standardized stress protocol to induce acute psychosocial stress in the laboratory. ACTH (five samples), total plasma (six samples) and free salivary cortisol (eight samples) were repeatedly measured before and after challenge. In the total group, ERI and OC were only marginally associated with HPA axis responses to acute stress. However, in the subgroup of responders (N=30) high levels of OC were significantly associated with lower ACTH (p=0.03) as well as plasma (p=0.02) and salivary cortisol (p<0.001) responses and results remained significant controlling for depressive symptoms. When additionally controlling for acute perceived stressfulness of the TSST, significant associations between OC and HPA axis responses emerged in responders as well as the total study sample. In respect to ERI, higher stress levels were solely related to significantly stronger plasma cortisol increases after TSST exposure, but this effect became non-significant controlling for depressive symptomatology. In sum, our findings support the notion of HPA axis hyporeactivity in highly overcommitted schoolteachers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Bellingrath
- Jacobs Center on Lifelong Learning and Institutional Development, Jacobs University Bremen, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
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