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Biggs AT, Seech TR, Johnston SL, Russell DW. Psychological endurance: how grit, resilience, and related factors contribute to sustained effort despite adversity. THE JOURNAL OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 151:271-313. [PMID: 37697826 DOI: 10.1080/00221309.2023.2253955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Many concepts describe how individuals sustain effort despite challenging circumstances. For example, scholars and practitioners may incorporate discussions of grit, hardiness, self-control, and resilience into their ideas of performance under adversity. Although there are nuanced points underlying each construct capable of generating empirically sound propositions, the shared attributes make them difficult to differentiate. As a result, substantial confusion arises when debating how these related factors concomitantly contribute to success, especially when practitioners attempt to communicate these ideas in applied settings. The model proposed here-psychological endurance-is a unified theory to explore how multiple concepts contribute to sustained goal-directed behaviors and individual success. Central to this model is the metaphor of a psychological battery, which potentiates and sustains optimal performance despite adversity. Grit and hardiness are associated with the maximum charge of the psychological battery, or how long an individual could sustain effort. Self-control modulates energy management that augments effort required to sustain endurance, whereas resilience represents the ability to recharge. These factors are constrained by both psychological and physiological stressors in the environment that drain the psychology battery. Taken together, these ideas form a novel framework to discuss related psychological concepts, and ideally, optimize intervention to enhance psychological endurance.
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May AK, Smeeth D, McEwen F, Karam E, Rieder MJ, Elzagallaai AA, van Uum S, Lionetti F, Pluess M. The role of environmental sensitivity in the mental health of Syrian refugee children: a multi-level analysis. Mol Psychiatry 2024:10.1038/s41380-024-02573-x. [PMID: 38702371 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02573-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Individuals with high environmental sensitivity have nervous systems that are disproportionately receptive to both the protective and imperilling aspects of the environment, suggesting their mental health is strongly context-dependent. However, there have been few consolidated attempts to examine putative markers of sensitivity, across different levels of analysis, within a single cohort of individuals with high-priority mental health needs. Here, we examine psychological (self-report), physiological (hair hormones) and genetic (polygenic scores) markers of sensitivity in a large cohort of 1591 Syrian refugee children across two waves of data. Child-caregiver dyads were recruited from informal tented settlements in Lebanon, and completed a battery of psychological instruments at baseline and follow-up (12 months apart). Univariate and multivariate Bayesian linear mixed models were used to examine a) the interrelationships between markers of sensitivity and b) the ability of sensitivity markers to predict anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and externalising behaviour. Self-reported sensitivity (using the Highly Sensitive Child Scale) significantly predicted a higher burden of all forms of mental illness across both waves, however, there were no significant cross-lagged pathways. Physiological and genetic markers were not stably predictive of self-reported sensitivity, and failed to similarly predict mental health outcomes. The measurement of environmental sensitivity may have significant implications for identifying and treating mental illness, especially amongst vulnerable populations, but clinical utility is currently limited to self-report assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K May
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Demelza Smeeth
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Fiona McEwen
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Elie Karam
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Balamand University, St Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Michael J Rieder
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Abdelbaset A Elzagallaai
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stan van Uum
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Francesca Lionetti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Michael Pluess
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
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May AK, Smeeth D, McEwen F, Moghames P, Karam E, Rieder MJ, Elzagallaai AA, van Uum S, Pluess M. Hair hormone data from Syrian refugee children: Perspectives from a two-year longitudinal study. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 18:100231. [PMID: 38645423 PMCID: PMC11026725 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100231] [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: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
For numerous issues of convenience and acceptability, hair hormone data have been increasingly incorporated in the field of war trauma and forced displacement, allowing retrospective examination of several biological metrics thought to covary with refugees' mental health. As a relatively new research method, however, there remain several complexities and uncertainties surrounding the use of hair hormones, from initial hair sampling to final statistical analysis, many of which are underappreciated in the extant literature, and restrict the potential utility of hair hormones. To promote awareness, we provide a narrative overview of our experiences collecting and analyzing hair hormone data in a large cohort of Syrian refugee children (n = 1594), across two sampling waves spaced 12 months apart. We highlight both the challenges faced, and the promising results obtained thus far, and draw comparisons to other prominent studies in this field. Recommendations are provided to future researchers, with emphasis on longitudinal study designs, thorough collection and reporting of hair-related variables, and careful adherence to current laboratory guidelines and practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K. May
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Demelza Smeeth
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Fiona McEwen
- Biological and Experimental Psychology, School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Department of War Studies, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Elie Karam
- Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Balamand University, St Georges Hospital University Medical Center, Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (IDRAAC), Lebanon
| | - Michael J. Rieder
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Abdelbaset A. Elzagallaai
- Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stan van Uum
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Pluess
- Department of Psychological Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
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Andersen E, Klusmann H, Eisenlohr-Moul T, Baresich K, Girdler S. Life stress influences the relationship between sex hormone fluctuation and affective symptoms in peripubertal female adolescents. Dev Psychopathol 2024; 36:821-833. [PMID: 36876646 PMCID: PMC10480354 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942300010x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Female adolescents have a greatly increased risk of depression starting at puberty, which continues throughout the reproductive lifespan. Sex hormone fluctuation has been highlighted as a key proximal precipitating factor in the development of mood disorders tied to reproductive events; however, hormone-induced affective state change is poorly understood in the pubertal transition. The present study investigated the impact of recent stressful life events on the relationship between sex hormone change and affective symptoms in peripubertal female participants. Thirty-five peripubertal participants (ages 11-14, premenarchal, or within 1 year of menarche) completed an assessment of stressful life events, and provided weekly salivary hormone collections [estrone, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] and mood assessments for 8 weeks. Linear mixed models tested whether stressful life events provided a context in which within-person changes in hormones predicted weekly affective symptoms. Results indicated that exposure to stressful life events proximal to the pubertal transition influenced the directional effects of hormone change on affective symptoms. Specifically, greater affective symptoms were associated with increases in hormones in a high stress context and decreases in hormones in a low stress context. These findings provide support for stress-related hormone sensitivity as a diathesis for precipitating affective symptoms in the presence of pronounced peripubertal hormone flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Andersen
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry. CB #7167, Chapel Hill, NC 27617
| | - Hannah Klusmann
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry. CB #7167, Chapel Hill, NC 27617
- Freie Universität Berlin, Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Department of Education and Psychology. Schwendenerstraße 27, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tory Eisenlohr-Moul
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, MC 913, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Kayla Baresich
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry. CB #7167, Chapel Hill, NC 27617
| | - Susan Girdler
- University of North Carolina, Department of Psychiatry. CB #7167, Chapel Hill, NC 27617
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Rapp L, Pollatos O. Examining parental stress and its link to hair cortisol and DHEA levels in kindergartners. Psychol Health 2024:1-25. [PMID: 38679909 DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2024.2347659] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parental work-family conflict (WFC) and parental household income have been linked to negative outcomes for children. So far, no study has associated these two stressors with the hair concentration of cortisol (HCC) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in kindergarteners as a measurement of their objective stress. METHODS AND MEASURES 44 children (40.91% female) with a mean age of 5.16 years and their parents participated in this cross-sectional study. Children's cortisol and DHEA measurements reflected the hormones produced over the past two months. Parents filled out questionnaires concerning their WFC and parenting behavior. RESULTS Higher maternal WFC and a lower parental net household income were negatively associated with the DHEA and positively with HCC/DHEA ratio of their children. No significant associations were found between HCC and any included variables. Paternal WFC had no impact on the stress hormones and negatively affected parenting behavior of both parents. Levels of stress hormones were not correlated with parenting behavior. CONCLUSION The present results indicated a higher stress exposure in children of mothers with a higher WFC and lower net household income. Conceivably, this may have led to an accumulation of allostatic load. Potential influences of demographic variables on the children's hormones are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Rapp
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Olga Pollatos
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Wu JR, Chen VCH, Fang YH, Hsieh CC, Wu SI. The associates of anxiety among lung cancer patients: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) as a potential biomarker. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:476. [PMID: 38622547 PMCID: PMC11021003 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12195-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Anxiety is a prevalent comorbidity in lung cancer (LC) patients associated with a decline in quality of life. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroactive steroid, levels rise in response to stress. Prior research on the association between DHEA and anxiety has yielded contradictory results and no study has investigated this association in LC patients. METHODS A total of 213 patients with LC were recruited from a general hospital. Data on demographic and cancer-related variables were collected. Using the Chinese version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the degree of anxiety was determined. Cortisol, DHEA, and Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels in saliva were measured. Adjusting for confounding variables, a multivariate regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS 147 men and 66 women comprised our group with an average age of 63.75 years. After accounting for demographic and treatment-related factors, anxiety levels were significantly correlated with, post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) (β = 0.332, p < 0.001) and fatigue (β = 0.247, p = 0.02). Association between anxiety and three factors, including DHEA, PTSSs, and fatigue, was observed in patients with advanced cancer stages (III and IV) (DHEA β = 0.319, p = 0.004; PTSS β = 0.396, p = 0.001; fatigue β = 0.289, p = 0.027) and those undergoing chemotherapy (DHEA β = 0.346, p = 0.001; PTSS β = 0.407, p = 0.001; fatigue β = 0.326, p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS The association between anxiety and DHEA remained positive in advanced cancer stages and chemotherapy patients. Further study is necessary to determine whether DHEA is a potential biomarker of anxiety in LC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Rong Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6, Sec. West Chia-Pu Road, 613, Pu-Zi City, Chiayi County, Taiwan
| | - Vincent Chin-Hung Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6, Sec. West Chia-Pu Road, 613, Pu-Zi City, Chiayi County, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hung Fang
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6, Sec. West Chia-Pu Road, 613, Pu-Zi City, Chiayi County, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chuan Hsieh
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang-Gung University, 259 Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan Tao-Yuan, Taiwan
- Department of Surgery, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, 6, Sec. West Chia-Pu Road, 613, Pu-Zi City, Chiayi County, Taiwan
| | - Shu-I Wu
- Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, No.46, Sec.3, Zhongzheng Rd., Sanzhi Dist, 25245, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Department of Psychiatry, Mackay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., 104, Taipei City, Taiwan.
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Girardi D, Dal Corso L, Arcucci E, Yıldırım M, Pividori I, Prandi A, Falco A. Hair dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate as biomarker of employees' well-being? A longitudinal investigation of support, resilience, and work engagement during COVID-19 pandemic. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1337839. [PMID: 38572210 PMCID: PMC10987734 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1337839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Building on the motivational process of the job demands-resources (JD-R) theory, in the current research we investigated the longitudinal association between supervisor support/resilience as job/personal resources, work engagement (WE) and hair dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, or DHEA(S), as a possible biomarker of employees' well-being. Methods In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, 122 workers completed two self-report questionnaires (i.e., psychological data): the former at Time 1 (T1) and the latter three months afterwards, at Time 2 (T2). Participants also collected a strand of hair (i.e., biological data) at T2. Results Results from path analysis showed that both SS and resilience at T1 were positively related to WE at T2, which, in its turn, was positively related to hair DHEA(S) at T2. Both SS and resilience at T1 had a positive indirect effect on hair DHEA(S) at T2 through WE at T2, which fully mediated the association between job/personal resources and hair DHEA(S). Discussion Overall, results are consistent with the motivational process of the JD-R. Furthermore, this study provides preliminary evidence for the role of hair DHEA(S) as a biomarker of WE, a type of work-related subjective well-being that plays a central role in the motivational process of the JD-R, leading to favorable personal and organizational outcomes. Finally, the article outlines practical implications for organizations and professionals to foster WE within the workplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damiano Girardi
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Laura Dal Corso
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elvira Arcucci
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Murat Yıldırım
- Department of Psychology, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, Ağrı, Türkiye
- Department of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Social and Educational Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alberto Prandi
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Alessandra Falco
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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8
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Halabicky OM, Giang CW, Miller AL, Peterson KE. Lead exposure, glucocorticoids, and physiological stress across the life course: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123329. [PMID: 38281572 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The biological pathways linking lead exposure to adverse outcomes are beginning to be understood. Rodent models suggest lead exposure induces dysfunction within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid regulation, a primary physiological stress response system. Over time, HPA axis and glucocorticoid dysfunction has been associated with adverse neurocognitive and cardiometabolic health, much like lead exposure. This systematic review utilized PRISMA guidelines to synthesize the literature regarding associations between lead exposure and downstream effector hormones of the HPA axis, including cortisol, a glucocorticoid, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a glucocorticoid antagonist. We additionally determined the state of the evidence regarding lead exposure and allostatic load, a measure of cumulative body burden resultant of HPA axis and glucocorticoid dysfunction. A total of 18 articles were included in the review: 16 assessed cortisol or DHEA and 3 assessed allostatic load. Generally, the few available child studies suggest a significant association between early life lead exposure and altered cortisol, potentially suggesting the impact of developmental exposure. In adulthood, only cross sectional studies were available. These reported significant associations between lead and reduced cortisol awakening response and increased cortisol reactivity, but few associations with fasting serum cortisol. Two studies reported significant associations between increasing lead exposure and allostatic load in adults and another between early life lead exposure and adolescent allostatic load. The paucity of studies examining associations between lead exposure and allostatic load or DHEA and overall heterogeneity of allostatic load measurements limit conclusions. However, these findings cautiously suggest associations between lead and dysregulation of physiological stress pathways (i.e., glucocorticoids) as seen through cortisol measurement in children and adults. Future research would help to elucidate these associations and could further examine the physiological stress pathway as a mediator between lead exposure and detrimental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- O M Halabicky
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - C W Giang
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - A L Miller
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - K E Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Grafinger KE, Kassis W, Favre CA, Aksoy D, Gaugler S. Analysing and quantifying chronic stress-associated endogenous steroids in hair samples. Drug Test Anal 2024. [PMID: 38477213 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3678] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
In previous studies, various steroids have been associated with stress and have therefore been quantified to investigate stress-related questions. Since the main stress-related steroid cortisol follows a circadian rhythm, often hair is analysed to quantify this steroid. Further, hair analysis gives the unique possibility of long-time monitoring by analysing a certain segment of hair, since hair grows on average 1 cm per month. Hair is a difficult matrix due to the complex sample preparation with many steps including washing and grinding, followed by various extraction steps. Additionally, steroids are endogenous and are therefore present in the hair matrix. Hence, no analyte free matrix is available, which is needed for the quantification via external calibrators. To overcome this problem, the so-called surrogate methods can be used, for which a 13 C3 labelled or deuterated reference compound of the steroid of interest is used for quantification. In the present study, a surrogate method was developed and fully validated for the quantitative analysis of seven steroids in human hair. Validation experiments showed that the method is further suitable for semi-quantitative analysis of estradiol. However, it is not suitable for the analysis of androsterone and DHEAS. The method was successfully used to analyse steroids in a comprehensive study of 360 adolescent hair samples, enabling research into stress markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Elisabeth Grafinger
- Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Wassilis Kassis
- Institute of Research and Development, School of Education, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Céline A Favre
- Institute of Research and Development, School of Education, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Dilan Aksoy
- Institute of Research and Development, School of Education, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Windisch, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Gaugler
- Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
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10
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Doan SN, Davis AS, Fuller-Rowell TE. Cortisol and changes in depressive symptoms: The moderating role of DHEA. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 161:106941. [PMID: 38183866 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106941] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
Stress is associated with activation of the hypothalamus-adrenal-axis (HPA). Cortisol, a product of the HPA, is thought to predict depression. However, to date, the majority of studies investigating the cortisol-depression relationship have been cross-sectional and results have been mixed. One possible reason for these mixed findings, may be that many studies fail to consider the moderating role of dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA), which is released alongside cortisol and is thought to serve opposing functions. Therefore, the present study investigated the main and interactive effects of cortisol and DHEA on depressive symptoms. Salivary cortisol and DHEA were measured from saliva throughout the Trier Social Stress task for N = 417 participants at baseline. Participants reported on their depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory - II at both baseline and follow up (ranging from 1-20 months post baseline; M = 11.60, SD = 5.80) as well as general demographics. The lavaan package in R (version 0.6.11; Rosseel, 2012) was used to conduct multiple regression analyses with FIML to explore the relationships between these variables. Results demonstrated no main effect of cortisol or DHEA, but did show a significant interaction with DHEA. The relations between cortisol and depressive symptoms depended on levels of DHEA such that the relationship was positive at low and negative at high levels of DHEA, with the overall interaction significant (β = -.22, p < .001, 95% CI = [-.333, -.115]). DHEA can act as a protective factor against depression when cortisol levels are high. This presents opportunities for future research on how to improve DHEA levels to potentially reduce depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey N Doan
- Claremont McKenna College, Department of Psychological and Neuroscience, Claremont, CA, USA.
| | - Alicia S Davis
- Claremont McKenna College, Department of Psychological and Neuroscience, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - Thomas E Fuller-Rowell
- Auburn University, College of Human Sciences, Department of Human Development and Family Science, Auburn, AL, USA
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11
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Vage A, Spence AD, Gormley GJ, McKeown G, Murphy P, Hamilton PK. Untapped resource: the simulation-based healthcare environment as a means to study human stress. THE ULSTER MEDICAL JOURNAL 2024; 92:157-166. [PMID: 38292502 PMCID: PMC10824135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
The effects of 'stress' within the healthcare professions are wide-reaching, not least of all within the field of simulation-based healthcare education. Whilst this popular method of experiential learning offers a 'safe space' for participants to develop their skillset, it also has a more surreptitious action; namely, the incubation of simulation-related stress. Currently, research concerning the complex relationship between stress, learning, and performance is ambiguous, leaving fertile ground for simulationists to debate what level of stress is appropriate for an optimised educational experience. In this narrative review, we examine the human response to stress and outline the various methods that have been used by researchers to measure stress in a quantifiable and standardised way. We then provide a brief overview of simulation-based healthcare education before describing why stress responses have been of interest to healthcare educationalists for some time. Finally, we outline how simulation education environments might provide an ideal environment for studying the human response to stress generally, with ramifications extending beyond the field of medical education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Vage
- Centre for Medical Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL
| | - Andrew D Spence
- Centre for Medical Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL
| | - Gerard J Gormley
- Centre for Medical Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL
| | - Gary McKeown
- School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast, David Keir Building, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5BN
| | - Paul Murphy
- School of Arts, English and Languages, Queen’s University Belfast, University Square, Belfast, BT7 1NN
| | - Paul K Hamilton
- Centre for Medical Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Whitla Medical Building, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7BL
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12
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Guzman JM, Boone MH, Suarez GL, Mitchell C, Monk CS, Hyde LW, Lopez-Duran NL. Relationship between COVID-related stressors and internalizing symptoms: Gendered neuroendocrine risk profiles. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 159:106668. [PMID: 37944209 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106668] [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: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic generated significant life stress and increases in internalizing disorders. Moreover, COVID-related stressors disproportionately impacted women, consistent with outcomes showing a gender gap in stress-related disorders. Gender-related stress vulnerability emerges in adolescence alongside gender-specific changes in neuroendocrine signaling. Most research on the neuroendocrinology of stress-related disorders has focused on differences in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis effector hormone cortisol. More recent studies, however, emphasize dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a neuroprotective and neuroactive hormone released concurrently with cortisol that balances its biobehavioral actions during stress. Notably, women show lower cortisol responses and higher DHEA responses to stress. However, lower cortisol and higher DHEA are associated with internalizing disorders in women, while those associations are opposite in men. Thus, gender-specific factors perhaps result in a neuroendocrine profile that places women at greater risk for stress-related disorders. The current study prospectively examined socially evaluated cold-pressor task (SECPT) induced neuroendocrine responses at age 15 and internalizing symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic at age 21 in a cohort of 175 primarily Black low-socioeconomic status participants, while controlling for internalizing symptoms at age 15. The association between COVID-related stress and internalizing symptoms was not stronger in women. Lower DHEA-cortisol ratios were associated with a weaker relationship between COVID-related stress and internalizing symptoms in women, while higher ratios were associated with a weaker relationship in men. These findings suggest gender differences in the relationship between DHEA and cortisol and internalizing outcomes during a stressful period, and support differential neuroendocrine protective and risk pathways for young men and women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Guzman
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Montana H Boone
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gabriela L Suarez
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Christopher S Monk
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Luke W Hyde
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Hoffman KW, Tran KT, Moore TM, Gataviņš MM, Visoki E, DiDomenico GE, Schultz LM, Almasy L, Hayes MR, Daskalakis NP, Barzilay R. Allostatic load in early adolescence: gene / environment contributions and relevance for mental health. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.10.27.23297674. [PMID: 37961462 PMCID: PMC10635214 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.27.23297674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Allostatic load is the cumulative "wear and tear" on the body due to chronic adversity. We aimed to test poly-environmental (exposomic) and polygenic contributions to allostatic load and their combined contribution to early adolescent mental health. Methods We analyzed data on N = 5,035 diverse youth (mean age 12) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD). Using dimensionality reduction method, we calculated and overall allostatic load score (AL) using body mass index [BMI], waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glycemia, blood cholesterol, and salivary DHEA. Childhood exposomic risk was quantified using multi-level environmental exposures before age 11. Genetic risk was quantified using polygenic risk scores (PRS) for metabolic system susceptibility (type 2 diabetes [T2D]) and stress-related psychiatric disease (major depressive disorder [MDD]). We used linear mixed effects models to test main, additive, and interactive effects of exposomic and polygenic risk (independent variables) on AL (dependent variable). Mediation models tested the mediating role of AL on the pathway from exposomic and polygenic risk to youth mental health. Models adjusted for demographics and genetic principal components. Results We observed disparities in AL with non-Hispanic White youth having significantly lower AL compared to Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Black youth. In the diverse sample, childhood exposomic burden was associated with AL in adolescence (beta=0.25, 95%CI 0.22-0.29, P<.001). In European ancestry participants (n=2,928), polygenic risk of both T2D and depression was associated with AL (T2D-PRS beta=0.11, 95%CI 0.07-0.14, P<.001; MDD-PRS beta=0.05, 95%CI 0.02-0.09, P=.003). Both polygenic scores showed significant interaction with exposomic risk such that, with greater polygenic risk, the association between exposome and AL was stronger. AL partly mediated the pathway to youth mental health from exposomic risk and from MDD-PRS, and fully mediated the pathway from T2D-PRS. Conclusions AL can be quantified in youth using anthropometric and biological measures and is mapped to exposomic and polygenic risk. Main and interactive environmental and genetic effects support a diathesis-stress model. Findings suggest that both environmental and genetic risk be considered when modeling stress-related health conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin W. Hoffman
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, US
| | - Kate T. Tran
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
| | - Tyler M. Moore
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
| | - Mārtiņš M. Gataviņš
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
| | - Elina Visoki
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
| | - Grace E. DiDomenico
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
| | - Laura M. Schultz
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, US
| | - Laura Almasy
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, US
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
| | - Matthew R. Hayes
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
| | - Nikolaos P. Daskalakis
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ran Barzilay
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, US
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, US
- Lifespan Brain Institute of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, US
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14
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Dupuy M, Dutheil F, Alvarez A, Godet T, Adeyemi OJ, Clinchamps M, Schmidt J, Lambert C, Bouillon-Minois JB. Influence of COVID-19 on Stress at Work During the First Wave of the Pandemic Among Emergency Health Care Workers. Disaster Med Public Health Prep 2023; 17:e455. [PMID: 37533367 DOI: 10.1017/dmp.2023.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES For more than 2 years, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has forced worldwide health care systems to adapt their daily practice. These adaptations add to the already stressful demands of providing timely medical care in an overcrowded health care system. Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic added stress to an already overwhelmed emergency and critical care health care workers (HCWs) on the front lines during the first wave of the pandemic.This study assessed comparative subjective and objective stress among frontline HCWs using a visual analog scale and biometric data, specifically heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS This is a prospective, observational study using surveys and heart rate monitoring among HCWs who work in 3 frontline health care units (emergency department, mobile intensive care unit, and intensive care unit) in the University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Two sessions were performed: 1 during the first wave of the pandemic (April 10 to May 10, 2020) and 1 after the first wave of the pandemic (June 10 to July 15, 2020).The primary outcome is the difference in stress levels between the 2 time points. Secondary objectives were the impact of overcrowding, sociodemographics, and other variables on stress levels. We also assessed the correlation between subjective and objective stress levels. RESULTS Among 199 HCWs, 98 participated in biometric monitoring, 84 had biometric and survey data, and 12 with only biometric data. Subjective stress was higher during the second time point compared to the first (4.39 ± 2.11 vs 3.16 ± 2.34, P = 0.23). There were higher objective stress levels with a decrease in HRV between the first and the second time points. Furthermore, we found higher patient volumes as a source of stress during the second time point. We did not find any significant correlation between subjective and objective stress levels. CONCLUSION HCWs had higher stress levels between the 2 waves of the pandemic. Overcrowding in the emergency department is associated with higher stress levels. We did not find any correlation between subjective and objective stress among intensive care and emergency HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Dupuy
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Emergency Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Al'ai Alvarez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Godet
- CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Reproduction and Developmental Diseases (R2D2) Unit, EA 7281, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Oluwaseun John Adeyemi
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maëlys Clinchamps
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Emergency Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jeannot Schmidt
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Emergency Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Céline Lambert
- CHU Clermont-Ferrand, DRCI, Biostatistics unit, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Bouillon-Minois
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Emergency Medicine, Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Falco A, Girardi D, Elfering A, Peric T, Pividori I, Dal Corso L. Is Smart Working Beneficial for Workers' Wellbeing? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working, Workload, and Hair Cortisol/Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate during the COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6220. [PMID: 37444069 PMCID: PMC10341102 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Building on the job demands-resources (JD-R) and allostatic load (AL) models, in the present study we examined the role of smart working (SW) in the longitudinal association between workload/job autonomy (JA) and a possible biomarker of work-related stress (WRS) in the hair-namely, the cortisol-dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA(S)) ratio-during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 124 workers completed a self-report questionnaire (i.e., psychological data) at Time 1 (T1) and provided a strand of hair (i.e., biological data) three months later (Time 2, T2). Results from moderated multiple regression analysis showed that SW at T1 was negatively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2. Additionally, the interaction between workload and SW was significant, with workload at T1 being positively associated with the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio at T2 among smart workers. Overall, this study indicates that SW is a double-edged sword, with both positive and negative consequences on employee wellbeing. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the hair cortisol/DHEA(S) ratio is a promising biomarker of WRS. Practical implications that organizations and practitioners can adopt to prevent WRS and promote organizational wellbeing are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Falco
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Damiano Girardi
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
| | - Achim Elfering
- Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tanja Peric
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Isabella Pividori
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Laura Dal Corso
- FISPPA Section of Applied Psychology, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
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Gao J, Mancus GC, Yuen HK, Watson JH, Lake ML, Jenkins GR. Changes in cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels immediately after urban park visits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2023; 33:206-218. [PMID: 34879780 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2021.2013454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore physiological and psychological changes immediately after a short-term visit to urban parks in an uncontrolled condition. Sixty park visitors completed a short questionnaire evaluating their subjective well-being (SWB) and donated a saliva sample immediately before and after their park visit. In addition, participants wore a pedometer to track their physical activity level during the park visit. Results indicated the levels of all biomarkers (cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], and cortisol/DHEA ratio) decreased while SWB scores increased after the park visit. The duration of park visit was identified as a key variable significantly associated with cortisol reduction, and changes in SWB scores after the park visit were significantly associated with changes in cortisol level. A park visit duration of 21.8 min has the predictive ability to discriminate park visitors who exhibit reductions in cortisol levels after the park visit from those who do not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gao
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program/Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Science, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gibran C Mancus
- Capstone College of Nursing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
| | - Hon K Yuen
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - James H Watson
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program/Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Science, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Menesha L Lake
- Clinical Laboratory Sciences Program/Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Science, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gavin R Jenkins
- Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Health Professions, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Dutheil F, Parreira LM, Pereira B, Baldet M, Marson F, Chabaud C, Blot M, Baker JS, Zak M, Vallet G, Magnon V, Clinchamps M, Altun S. SOphrology Intervention to Improve WELL-Being in Hospital Staff (SO-WELL): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1185. [PMID: 36673939 PMCID: PMC9859524 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stress at work and psychosocial risks are a major public health problem. Sophrology and neurolinguistic programming (NLP) have demonstrated benefits in terms of mental, physical and social health, both in the general population and in patients, and both in and out of hospital settings. However, these approaches have never been provided at the hospital for the benefit of health professionals at risk of suffering at work. In general, we aim to demonstrate the effectiveness of a hospital sophrology/NLP intervention for health care professionals at risk of stress-related disorders. The secondary objectives are to study (i) within-group, and (ii) between-group): (1) effects on mental, physical, and social health; (2) persistence of effect; (3) relationships between job perception and mental, physical, and social health; (4) intervention success factors (personality and job perception, attendance and practice, other); (5) effects on other stress biomarkers (other measures of autonomic nervous system activity, DHEAS, cortisol, etc.). METHODS Our study will be a randomized controlled prospective study (research involving the human person of type 2). The study will be proposed to any health-care workers (HCW) or any non-HCW (NHCW) from a healthcare institution (such as CHU of Clermont-Ferrand, other hospitals, clinics, retirement homes). Participants will benefit from NLP and sophrology interventions at the hospital. For both groups: (i) heart rate variability, skin conductance and saliva biomarkers will be assessed once a week during the intervention period (6 to 8 sophrology sessions) and once by month for the rest of the time; (ii) the short questionnaire will be collected once a week during the whole protocol (1-2 min); (iii) the long questionnaire will be assessed only 5 times: at baseline (M0), month 1 (M1), month 3 (M3), month 5 (M5) and end of the protocol (M7). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol, information and consent form had received the favorable opinion from the Ethics Committee. Notification of the approval of the Ethics Committee was sent to the study sponsor and the competent authority (ANSM). The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov under the identification number NCT05425511 after the French Ethics Committee's approval. The results will be reported according to the CONSORT guidelines. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS STUDY The psychological questionnaires in this study are self-assessed. It is also possible that responses suffer from variation. For the study, participants need to attend 6 to 8 sophrology sessions and one visit per month for 7 months, which might seem demanding. Therefore, to make sure that participants will complete the protocol, two persons will be fully in charge of the participants' follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Dutheil
- Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, WittyFit, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Lénise M. Parreira
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Bruno Pereira
- The Clinical Research and Innovation Direction, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Maryse Baldet
- Pole REUNIRRH, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédérique Marson
- Pole MobEx (Mobility–Exercise), University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Christine Chabaud
- Sophrologist (Caycedo Method)–Trained in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Magali Blot
- Sophrologist (Caycedo Method)–Trained in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julien S. Baker
- Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
| | - Marek Zak
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, The Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
| | - Guillaume Vallet
- Department of Psychology, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Valentin Magnon
- Department of Psychology, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Maëlys Clinchamps
- Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, WittyFit, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Senem Altun
- Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, University Clermont Auvergne, WittyFit, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Preventive and Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Clermont-Ferrand (CHU), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Ahmed T, Qassem M, Kyriacou PA. Measuring stress: a review of the current cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) measurement techniques and considerations for the future of mental health monitoring. Stress 2023; 26:29-42. [PMID: 36625303 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2022.2164187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress and its inevitable trajectory toward mental health deteriorations such as clinical and major depression has become an unprecedented global burden. The diagnostic procedures involved in the characterization of mental illnesses commonly follow qualitative and subjective measures of stress, often leading to greater socioeconomic burdens due to misdiagnosis and poor understanding of the severity of such illnesses, further fueled by the stigmatization surrounding mental health. In recent years, the application of cortisol and stress hormone measurements has given rise to an alternative, quantifiable approach for the psychological evaluation of stress and depression. This review comprehensively evaluates the current state-of-the-art technology for measuring cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and their applications within stress monitoring in humans. Recent advancements in these fields have shown the importance of measuring stress hormones for the characterization of stress manifestation within the human body, and its relevance in mental health decline. Preliminary results from studies considering multimodal approaches toward stress monitoring have showcased promising developments, emphasizing the need for further technological advancement in this field, which consider both neurochemical and physiological biomarkers of stress, for global benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tashfia Ahmed
- Research Centre of Biomedical Engineering, University of London, London, UK
| | - Meha Qassem
- Research Centre of Biomedical Engineering, University of London, London, UK
| | - Panicos A Kyriacou
- Research Centre of Biomedical Engineering, University of London, London, UK
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Lee YH, Suk C, Shin SI, Hong JY. Salivary cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and chromogranin A levels in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis and a novel biomarker for psychological stress. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1147739. [PMID: 37113482 PMCID: PMC10126469 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1147739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to investigate the neuroendocrine responses based on cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol/DHEA ratio, and chromogranin A levels, which reflect the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, according to the presence or absence of psychological stress in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis compared to that in healthy controls. Methods In total, 117 patients (60 women, mean age: 36.29 ± 19.03 years) participated in this case-control study, comprising 32 healthy controls, 49 patients with gingivitis, and 36 patients with periodontitis. We investigated the presence of psychological stress and salivary characteristics, and analyzed the stress-related biomarkers of cortisol, DHEA, cortisol/DHEA ratio, and chromogranin A in the stimulated saliva. Results Salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels increased with the severity of periodontal disease; their levels were the highest in the periodontitis group and were significantly higher in the following descending order: periodontitis, gingivitis, and healthy control groups (all values of p < 0.001). Additionally, the DHEA levels and cortisol/DHEA ratio were higher in the periodontitis group than those in the healthy control group (all values of p < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the factors predicting above-average cortisol levels were periodontitis (odds ratio [OR] = 256.829; p < 0.001), women (OR = 6.365; p = 0.004), and psychological stress (OR = 6.036; p = 0.007); those predicting above-average cortisol/DHEA ratios were periodontitis (OR = 11.436; p < 0.001), psychological stress (OR = 3.977; p = 0.003), and women (OR = 2.890; p = 0.026). Thus, periodontitis and psychological stress were significant and strong predictors of above-average cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA ratios. In the gingivitis group, salivary cortisol levels (r = 0.381, p = 0.007) and cortisol/DHEA ratios (r = 0.479, p < 0.001) were correlated with the presence of psychological stress. In the periodontitis group, increased cortisol/DHEA ratios (r = 0.412, p = 0.013) and lowered salivary buffer capacities (r = -0.334, p = 0.047) were correlated with the presence of psychological stress. Conclusion Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease resulting in inflammatory tissue destruction, which differs from gingivitis and a healthy state. Differences in stress-related neuroendocrine markers were revealed based on the severity of periodontal disease. The biomarkers that could be classified according to disease severity were salivary cortisol and chromogranin A levels. Above-average cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA ratios are significant predictors of psychological stress in patients with gingivitis and periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeon-Hee Lee
- Department of Orofacial Pain and Oral Medicine, Kyung Hee University Dental Hospital, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Yeon-Hee Lee,
| | - Chon Suk
- Department of Endocrinology, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Il Shin
- Department of Periodontology, Periodontal-Implant Clinical Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Youn Hong
- Department of Periodontology, Periodontal-Implant Clinical Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Méndez-Rivero F, Pozo ÓJ, Julià M. Gender Differences in the Indirect Effect of Psychosocial Work Environment in the Association of Precarious Employment and Chronic Stress: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:16073. [PMID: 36498147 PMCID: PMC9736292 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192316073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Gender differences in the association between precarious employment and chronic stress have been found but the mechanisms underlying this relationship have not been explored. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the mediating effects of psychosocial risk factors at work (i.e., demands, control, and support) and work-life conflicts in the relationship between precarious employment and chronic stress as measured through the production of steroid hormones (both adrenal and gonadal) for men and women separately. Cross-sectional data were derived from a sample of workers from Barcelona (n = 125-255 men; 130 women). A set of 23 markers were determined from hair samples to evaluate the production of both adrenal and gonadal steroids. Decomposition analyses were applied to estimate the indirect effects of psychosocial risk factors and work-life conflict using linear regression models. Gender differences in the association between precarious employment and steroids production were confirmed. Psychosocial risk factors and work-life conflicts had indirect effects only among women (βCortisol = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.04-0.32; βCortisol/Cortisone 0.19; 95% CI: 0.08-0.31; β%Cortisol 0.12; 95% CI: 0.05-0.20). Gender differences suggest that the physiological response to precarious employment could be determined by the social construction of gender identities, as well as by positions and roles in the labour market and family. Future studies should delve further into these differences to improve employment and working policies, thus mitigating gender inequalities in the labour market to prevent work-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Méndez-Rivero
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment, and Employment Conditions (GREDS-EMCONET), Department of Political and Social Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Óscar J. Pozo
- Applied Metabolomics Research Group, IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia Julià
- Research Group on Health Inequalities, Environment, and Employment Conditions (GREDS-EMCONET), Department of Political and Social Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08005 Barcelona, Spain
- ESIMar (Mar Nursing School), Parc de Salut Mar, Universitat Pompeu Fabra-Affiliated, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- SDHEd (Social Determinants and Health Education Research Group), IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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Perlman G, Cogo-Moreira H, Wu CY, Herrmann N, Swardfager W. Depression interacts with allostatic load to predict cognitive decline in middle age. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105922. [PMID: 36150368 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allostatic load (AL) indicates the cumulative impact of stress on homeostatic mechanisms. Depression and AL have been associated with cognitive deficits, but it is unclear if they do so independently. METHODS Using data from middle-aged participants in the observational longitudinal Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study (n = 704, 57.5 % female, 63.8 ± 10.6 years old in 2014), we assessed whether the effect of prior depression (Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short-Form in 1995) on cognitive decline between 2004 and 2013 (composite Z-scores derived from the Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone and the Stop & Go Switch Task) was moderated by AL Z-scores in 2004 (calculated from biomarkers in blood, urine, and electrocardiography). RESULTS A significant depression × AL interaction predicted a decline in a composite cognitive score (β = -0.066, SE=0.029, p = 0.024) and executive function (β = -0.068, SE=0.025, p = 0.007). Depression predicted a decline in composite cognition among those with AL Z-scores above - 0.055. AL subdomains of inflammation and lipid metabolism showed evidence of moderation. CONCLUSION Middle-aged adults with depression who had higher allostatic load were at greater risk of cognitive decline. Future studies should evaluate whether the interaction predicts incident dementia, and whether interventions targeting depression or elevated AL in people who have both can attenuate cognitive decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Perlman
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Sleep and Cardiopulmonary Program, University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 347 Rumsey Road, Toronto M4G 2V6, Canada
| | - Hugo Cogo-Moreira
- Department of Education, ICT and Learning, Østfold University College, P.O.Box 700, NO-1757, Halden, Norway
| | - Che-Yuan Wu
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nathan Herrmann
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Walter Swardfager
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto M4N 3M5, Canada; Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada; Sleep and Cardiopulmonary Program, University Health Network - Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, 347 Rumsey Road, Toronto M4G 2V6, Canada.
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22
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Alberque B, Laporte C, Mondillon L, Baker JS, Mermillod M, Brousse G, Ugbolube UC, Bagheri R, Bouillon-Minois JB, Dutheil F. Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Healthcare Workers following the First SARS-CoV Epidemic of 2003: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13069. [PMID: 36293650 PMCID: PMC9603193 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The world is still in the grip of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, with putative psychological consequences for healthcare workers (HCWs). Exploring the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during the first SARS-CoV-1 epidemic in 2003 may inform us of the long-term effects of the actual pandemic, as well as putative influencing factors such as contact with the virus, time effects, or the importance of some sociodemographic data. This information may help us develop efficient preventive strategies. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of PTSD in HCWs following the SARS-CoV-1 in 2003. PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Psychinfo, and Web of Science were searched until September 2022. Random-effects meta-analyses were stratified by the time of follow-up. We included 14 studies: 4842 HCWs (32.0 years old, 84% women). The overall prevalence of PTSD was 14% (95CI 10 to 17%). The prevalence of PTSD was 16% (8 to 24%) during the epidemic, 19% (16 to 22%) within 6 months after the epidemic, and 8% (4 to 13%) more than one year after the end of the epidemic. The longest follow-up was three years after the epidemic, with 10% of HCWs with PTSD. Nevertheless, the prevalence of PTSD was significantly lower more than one year after the end of the epidemic than the first six months after the epidemic (Coefficient -10.4, 95CI -17.6 to -3.2, p = 0.007). In conclusion, the prevalence of PTSD in HCWs was high during the first epidemic of SARS-CoV in 2003 and remained high in the long term. The lessons from the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic may help prevent a wave of PTSD following the latest COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastien Alberque
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Catherine Laporte
- Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont Auvergne INP, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, CNRS, Institut Pascal, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Laurie Mondillon
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julien S. Baker
- Centre for Health and Exercise Science Research, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | | | - George Brousse
- Département de Psychiatrie, Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, EA 7280 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ukadike Chris Ugbolube
- School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, South Lanarkshire G72 0LH, UK
| | - Reza Bagheri
- Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran
| | - Jean-Baptiste Bouillon-Minois
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Association between Precarious Employment and Chronic Stress: Effect of Gender, Stress Measurement and Precariousness Dimensions-A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19159099. [PMID: 35897463 PMCID: PMC9330896 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19159099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Precarious employment has been highlighted as a social determinant of health, given, among others, to its alleged association with chronic stress. However, few studies have been conducted analyzing such association, using both perceived stress indicators and biological markers. Accordingly, the present study analyzed the association of multidimensional (6 dimensions) precarious employment scale with perceived stress and 23 markers of adrenal and gonadal hormone production, including cortisol. The sample consisted of 255 salaried workers from Barcelona (125 men, 130 women) aged 25-60. OLS regression models stratified by sex were conducted. Results demonstrated that precarious employment increased the probabilities of having perceived stress in both sexes. In addition, the production of adrenal hormones among men is associated with precarious wages and among women with precarious contracts ("Temporariness", "Disempowerment", and "Rights" dimensions). Therefore, precarious employment could be embodied by workers, altering their perceived well-being and physiological characteristics. Differences between men and women in the physiological effect of precarious employment could express not just the biochemical differences inherent to biological sex, but also the social construction of gender identities, positions and roles in society and family, as well as gender inequalities in the labour market.
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Divergent Neural and Endocrine Responses in Wild-Caught and Laboratory-Bred Rattus Norvegicus. Behav Brain Res 2022; 432:113978. [PMID: 35753530 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113978] [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: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Although rodents have represented the most intensely studied animals in neurobiological investigations for more than a century, few studies have systematically compared neural and endocrine differences between wild rodents in their natural habitats and laboratory strains raised in traditional laboratory environments. In the current study, male and female Rattus norvegicus rats were trapped in an urban setting and compared to weight-and sex-matched conspecifics living in standard laboratory housing conditions. Brains were extracted for neural assessments and fecal boli were collected for endocrine [corticosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)] assays. Additionally, given their role in immune and stress functions, spleen and adrenal weights were recorded. A separate set of wild rats was trapped at a dairy farm and held in captivity for one month prior to assessments; in these animals, brains were processed but no hormone data were available. The results indicated that wild-trapped rats exhibited 31% heavier brains, including higher densities of cerebellar neurons and glial cells in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis. The wild rats also had approximately 300% greater spleen and adrenal weights, and more than a six-fold increase in corticosterone levels than observed in laboratory rats. Further research on neurobiological variables in wild vs. lab animals will inform the extensive neurobiological knowledge base derived from laboratory investigations using selectively bred rodents in laboratory environments, knowledge that will enhance the translational value of preclinical laboratory rodent studies.
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Mazgelytė E, Burokienė N, Vysocka A, Narkevičius M, Petrėnas T, Kaminskas A, Songailienė J, Utkus A, Karčiauskaitė D. Higher Levels of Stress-Related Hair Steroid Hormones Are Associated with the Increased SCORE2 Risk Prediction Algorithm in Apparently Healthy Women. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9030070. [PMID: 35323618 PMCID: PMC8955541 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9030070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of death worldwide. Although the importance of conventional CVD risk factors, including older age, male gender, hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia, is well-studied, psychosocial stress, which is considered an independent CVD risk factor, requires further investigation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between long-term secretion of stress-related steroid hormones, including cortisol, cortisone and dehydroepiandrosterone, and the 10-year fatal and non-fatal CVD risk estimated by the SCORE2 risk prediction algorithm, as well as traditional CVD risk factors in a group of apparently healthy women. A total of 145 women (aged 50–64 years) participating in the national CVD prevention program were enrolled in the study. Sociodemographic, lifestyle, health-related characteristics, stress, anxiety and sleep quality indicators were evaluated using specific questionnaires. Anthropometric and arterial blood pressure measures were assessed by trained personnel, lipid and glucose metabolism biomarkers were measured using routine methods, and hair steroid hormone levels were determined by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The results showed that higher levels of hair cortisol and cortisone are associated with increased SCORE2 values. Moreover, significant associations between hair glucocorticoids and individual cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia, were found. These findings indicate that stress-related hair steroid hormones might be valuable biomarkers for CVD prediction and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eglė Mazgelytė
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
- Correspondence:
| | - Neringa Burokienė
- Clinics of Internal Diseases, Family Medicine and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (N.B.); (A.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Agata Vysocka
- Clinics of Internal Diseases, Family Medicine and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (N.B.); (A.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Martynas Narkevičius
- Clinics of Internal Diseases, Family Medicine and Oncology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (N.B.); (A.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Tomas Petrėnas
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.P.); (A.K.); (J.S.); (A.U.)
| | - Andrius Kaminskas
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.P.); (A.K.); (J.S.); (A.U.)
| | - Jurgita Songailienė
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.P.); (A.K.); (J.S.); (A.U.)
| | - Algirdas Utkus
- Department of Human and Medical Genetics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania; (T.P.); (A.K.); (J.S.); (A.U.)
| | - Dovilė Karčiauskaitė
- Department of Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, M. K. Čiurlionio st. 21, LT-03101 Vilnius, Lithuania;
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Bouillon-Minois JB, Thivel D, Croizier C, Ajebo É, Cambier S, Boudet G, Adeyemi OJ, Ugbolue UC, Bagheri R, Vallet GT, Schmidt J, Trousselard M, Dutheil F. The Negative Impact of Night Shifts on Diet in Emergency Healthcare Workers. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14040829. [PMID: 35215482 PMCID: PMC8876008 DOI: 10.3390/nu14040829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the consequences of night-shift work, the diet of night-shift workers has not been widely studied. To date, there are no studies related to food intake among emergency healthcare workers (HCWs). We performed a prospective observational study to assess the influence of night work on the diet of emergency HCWs. We monitored 24-h food intake during a day shift and the consecutive night, and during night work and the daytime beforehand. We analyzed 184 emergency HCWs' food intakes. Emergency HCWs had 14.7% lower (-206 kcal) of their 24-h energy intake during night shifts compared to their day-shift colleagues (1606.7 ± 748.2 vs. 1400.4 ± 708.3 kcal, p = 0.049) and a 16.7% decrease in water consumption (1451.4 ± 496.8 vs. 1208.3 ± 513.9 mL/day, p = 0.010). Compared to day shifts, night-shift had 8.7% lower carbohydrates, 17.6% proteins, and 18.7% lipids. During the night shift the proportion of emergency HCWs who did not drink for 4 h, 8 h and 12 h increased by 20.5%, 17.5%, and 9.1%, respectively. For those who did not eat for 4 h, 8 h and 12 h increased by 46.8%, 27.7%, and 17.7%, respectively. A night shift has a huge negative impact on both the amount and quality of nutrients consumed by emergency healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Bouillon-Minois
- Emergency Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (É.A.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - David Thivel
- Research Center in Human Nutrition, Laboratory AME2P, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63120 Aubière, France;
| | - Carolyne Croizier
- Hematology Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;
| | - Éric Ajebo
- Emergency Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (É.A.); (J.S.)
| | - Sébastien Cambier
- Clinical Research and Innovation Direction, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;
| | - Gil Boudet
- Department of Psychology, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (G.B.); (G.T.V.)
| | - Oluwaseun John Adeyemi
- Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY 10012, USA;
| | - Ukadike Chris Ugbolue
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Institute for Clinical Exercise & Health Science, University of the West of Scotland, Glasglow G72 0LH, UK;
| | - Reza Bagheri
- Department of Exercise Physiology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 81746-73441, Iran;
| | - Guillaume T. Vallet
- Department of Psychology, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS UMR 6024, LaPSCo, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (G.B.); (G.T.V.)
| | - Jeannot Schmidt
- Emergency Department, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (É.A.); (J.S.)
| | - Marion Trousselard
- French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, IRBA, Neurophysiology of Stress, F-91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
| | - Frédéric Dutheil
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, LaPSCo, Physiological and Psychosocial Stress, WittyFit, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France;
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Zhang R, Rubinstein G, Vetrivel S, Kunz S, Vogel F, Bouys L, Bertherat J, Kroiss M, Deniz S, Osswald A, Knösel T, Bidlingmaier M, Sbiera S, Reincke M, Riester A. Steroid profiling using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry during adrenal vein sampling in patients with primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1079508. [PMID: 36561559 PMCID: PMC9763872 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1079508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is not a routine procedure in patients with primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH), but has been used to determine lateralization of cortisol secretion in order to guide decision of unilateral adrenalectomy. Our aim was to characterize the steroid fingerprints in AVS samples of patients with PBMAH and hypercortisolism and to identify a reference hormone for AVS interpretation. METHOD Retrospectively, we included 17 patients with PBMAH from the German Cushing's registry who underwent AVS. 15 steroids were quantified in AVS and peripheral blood samples using LC-MS/MS. We calculated lateralization indices and conversion ratios indicative of steroidogenic enzyme activity to elucidate differences between individual adrenal steroidomes and in steroidogenic pathways. RESULTS Adrenal volume was negatively correlated with peripheral cortisone (r=0.62, p<0.05). 24-hour urinary free cortisol correlated positively with peripheral androgens (rDHEA=0.57, rDHEAS=0.82, rA=0.73, rT=0.54, p<0.05). DHEA was found to be a powerful reference hormone with high selectivity index, which did not correlate with serume cortisol and has a short half-life. All investigated steroids showed lateralization in single patients indicating the heterogenous steroid secretion pattern in patients with PBMAH. The ratios of corticosterone/aldosterone (catalyzed by CYP11B2), androstenedione/dehydroepiandrosterone (catalyzed by HSD3B2) and cortisone/cortisol (catalyzed by HSD11B2) in adrenal vein samples were higher in smaller adrenals (p<0.05). ARMC5 mutation carriers (n=6) showed lower androstenedione/17-hydroxyprogesterone and higher testosterone/androstenedione (p<0.05) ratios in peripheral blood, in line with lower peripheral androstenedione concentrations (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Steroid profiling by LC-MS/MS led us to select DHEA as a candidate reference hormone for cortisol secretion. Lateralization and different steroid ratios showed that each steroid and all three steroidogenic pathways may be affected in PBMAH patients. In patients with germline ARMC5 mutations, the androgen pathway was particularly dysregulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Zhang
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - German Rubinstein
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Sharmilee Vetrivel
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Kunz
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Frederick Vogel
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Lucas Bouys
- Institut Cochin, Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | | | - Matthias Kroiss
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sinan Deniz
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Osswald
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Knösel
- Pathologisches Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Bidlingmaier
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Reincke
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Riester
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
- *Correspondence: Anna Riester,
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Clephane K, Lorenz TK. Putative Mental, Physical, and Social Mechanisms of Hormonal Influences on Postpartum Sexuality. CURRENT SEXUAL HEALTH REPORTS 2021; 13:136-148. [DOI: 10.1007/s11930-021-00321-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Leptin as a Biomarker of Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13103350. [PMID: 34684349 PMCID: PMC8541372 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leptin is a satiety hormone mainly produced by white adipose tissue. Decreasing levels have been described following acute stress. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if leptin can be a biomarker of stress, with levels decreasing following acute stress. METHODS PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ScienceDirect were searched to obtain all articles studying leptin levels after acute stress on 15 February 2021. We included articles reporting leptin levels before and after acute stress (physical or psychological) and conducted random effects meta-analysis (DerSimonian and Laird approach). We conducted Meta-regressions and sensitivity analyses after exclusion of groups outside the metafunnel. RESULTS We included seven articles-four cohort and three case-control studies-(28 groups) from 27,983 putative articles. Leptin levels decreased after the stress intervention (effect size = -0.34, 95%CI -0.66 to -0.02) compared with baseline levels, with a greater decrease after 60 min compared to mean decrease (-0.45, -0.89 to -0.01) and in normal weight compared to overweight individuals (-0.79, -1.38 to -0.21). There was no difference in the overweight population. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated similar results. Levels of leptin after stress decreased with sex ratio-i.e., number of men/women-(-0.924, 95%CI -1.58 to -0.27) and increased with the baseline levels of leptin (0.039, 0.01 to 0.07). CONCLUSIONS Leptin is a biomarker of stress, with a decrease following acute stress. Normal-weight individuals and women also have a higher variation of leptin levels after stress, suggesting that leptin may have implications in obesity development in response to stress in a sex-dependent manner.
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