Stress and Health最新文献

Laboratory-based studies have shown that psychological stress caused by response to various stressors triggers acute changes in the cardiovascular system. A better understanding is needed of the emerging evidence on temporal associations between psychological stress and cardiovascular responses in natural settings. This study examined the association of psychological stress and heart rate variability (HRV) in daily life, at high resolution over 2 weeks, taking the effect of physical activity into account. Participants (n = 34) completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA) 6 times per day, reporting levels of perceived stress, low-arousal negative affect (LNA), and high-arousal negative affect. Chest-mounted heart-rate monitors were worn to assess HRV. Multilevel models were used to examine the association between psychological stress levels and preceding/subsequent HRV. Reduced time domain HRV measures (mean and standard deviation of R-wave to R-wave intervals) during the prior hour predicted higher levels of perceived stress. Frequency domain HRV measures higher low to high frequency (LF/HF) and lower HF to total power (HF nu) ratios during the preceding 10 min predicted higher perceived stress levels, suggesting the dominance of sympathetic nervous system activity. EMA reports of higher perceived stress levels were associated with reduced time domain HRV measures during the following 10 min. On the other hand, higher LNA were related to increased HRV measures, such as lower LF/HF and higher HF nu during the following hour. The dynamic associations observed may have therapeutic implications for 'just-in-time' interventions in the management of daily stress and cardiovascular health.

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unparalleled stressor that enhanced isolation. Loneliness has been identified as an epidemic by the US Surgeon General. This study aimed to: (1) characterize longitudinal trajectories of loneliness during the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) identify longitudinal mediators of the relationship of loneliness with anxiety and depression; and (3) examine how loneliness naturally clusters and identify factors associated with high loneliness. Two hundred and twenty-nine adults (78% female; mean age = 39.5 ± 13.8) completed an abbreviated version of the UCLA Loneliness Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, State Anxiety Inventory, and Patient Health Questionnaire-8 longitudinally between April 2020 and 2021. Trajectory analyses demonstrated relatively stable loneliness over time, while anxiety and depression symptoms declined. Longitudinal analyses indicated that loneliness effects on anxiety and depression were both partially mediated by perceived stress, while emotion regulation capacity only mediated effects on anxiety. Three stable clusters of loneliness trajectories emerged (high, moderate, and low). The odds of moderate or high loneliness cluster membership were positively associated with higher perceived stress and negatively associated with greater cognitive reappraisal use. Our results demonstrate the important interconnections between loneliness and facets of mental health throughout the early phases of the pandemic and may inform targeted future interventions for loneliness work.

Findings have revealed a strong link between exposure to child maltreatment (CM) and later chronic pain. Concurrently, other findings have been grounded in the understanding that CM consequences may not end with the exposed individual, rather, they extend to their offspring. However, little is known regarding the possible intergenerational transmission of chronic pain following CM. This study examines whether chronic pain among parents and their young adult offspring may be associated with parental exposure to CM. Three hundred ninety-three parent-offspring dyads (parents' mean age = 58, SD = 5.91 years; offspring's mean age = 27, SD = 3.91 years) completed self-report questionnaires, assessing CM (CTQ), posttraumatic stress (PTS) and disturbances in self-organisation (DSO) symptoms (ITQ), and chronic pain. CM was associated with chronic pain mediated by DSO symptoms among parents (indirect effect = 0.77; p = 0.007) and PTS symptoms among offspring (indirect effect = 0.285; p = 0.005). Offspring chronic pain was significantly associated with parental CM through two intergenerational paths: the mediation of parents' DSO symptoms and chronic pain (indirect effect = 0.298; p = 0.011), and through parents' PTS symptoms and offspring's PTS symptoms (indirect effect = 0.077; p = 0.004). This study's findings support the relevance of the intergenerational transmission of chronic pain following parental exposure to CM. Furthermore, the findings reveal complex PTS symptoms as a possible underlying mechanism for the intergenerational associations of chronic pain following CM.

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a valuable biomarker for evaluating chronic stress in preschoolers. However, few studies have explored early life HCC and its associated factors. This prospective cohort study analysed the HCC in children aged 6-48 months and its associations with parental HCC as well as positive and negative parental mental health outcomes. We used data from the ongoing Longitudinal Examination Across Prenatal and Postpartum Health in Taiwan (LEAPP-HIT) project, conducted in Taipei between 2020 and 2024. Hair samples were collected from both parents and children in 177 families (91 samples obtained during pregnancy and 86 during the postpartum period). The parents also completed self-reported questionnaires. Multiple linear regression was conducted to analyse the data. We observed a significant positive correlation between parents' and preschoolers' HCC. Furthermore, maternal depression (adjusted beta coefficient [aβ] = 0.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.02, 0.16) and perceived stress (aβ = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.26) were positively associated with preschoolers' HCC. By contrast, higher maternal eudaimonia was associated with lower HCC in preschoolers (aβ = -0.11, 95% CI = -0.20, -0.01). For parents, maternal depression, anxiety, and perceived stress were independently associated with an increased HCC during the postnatal period, whereas maternal eudaimonia was negatively associated with HCC. Our results indicate that both mothers and fathers affect children's responses to stress. Assessment of cortisol stress hormone concentrations through hair samples can be a key means of detecting preschoolers' stress levels and enabling early intervention.

We examined the longitudinal psychometric properties of the Perceived Stress Scale - 4 items version (PSS-4) using item response theory with a sample of 361 mental health counsellors. Participants completed the PSS-4 at three timepoints at six-month intervals in a one-year period. There were 290 participants who (80.3%) identified as female, 51 (14.1%) identified as male, eight (2.2%) identified as gender variant/non-conforming, seven (1.9%) wrote in their own gender identity (e.g., genderqueer, gender expansive), three (0.8%) identified as Transgender male, and two (0.6%) did not respond to the item. The racial and ethnic backgrounds were as follows: White (87.3%), Multiracial (5.5%), Latino or Hispanic or Spanish (2.8%), Black or African American (1.4%), Asian (0.8%), Middle Eastern (0.8%), and five did not respond to the item (1.4%). We found unidimensionality evidence of the PSS-4 across all three timepoints and response categories were monotonically ordered. We also found that across all timepoints, the average person location was lower than the average item location, suggesting that the PSS-4 may not be well-targeted for this sample of mental health counsellors. We observed no significant interactions between timepoints, hours worked per week, and length of employment. Implications of the findings, including a discussion of the utility of the PSS-4 as a global measure of stress and with mental health counsellors.

While existing literature on the intersection of trauma and autism is limited, emerging evidence suggests heightened vulnerability of autistic children to the psychological consequences of traumatic events, including an elevated risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, parents of autistic children often experience elevated levels of negative emotional states, compared to parents of typically developing children. This study investigates the impact of terrorism and war on autistic and non-autistic children and their parents, presenting preliminary results from the initial data collection phase of a year-long longitudinal investigation of the experience of autistic children and their parents following Hamas' 7 October 2023 attack on Israel. Data gathered within 30 days of the initial attack reveal that both autistic and non-autistic children exhibited clinically significant post-traumatic stress symptoms, with autistic children demonstrating a more pronounced manifestation. Moreover, parents of autistic children reported significantly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in the aftermath of the events, compared to an independent cohort of parents of autistic children assessed prior to the crisis. These results underscore the heightened susceptibility of autistic children to post-traumatic stress and the unique challenges confronted by their parents during times of conflict. The study highlights the imperative for tailored support services for autistic children and their families amidst traumatic incidents and stresses the need for further research in comparable contexts globally.

Chronic health conditions (CHCs) involve physical, psychological, and social challenges and can have a significant negative impact on work ability, which can then affect performance and job satisfaction. However, the various effects of CHCs on business operations and maintenance among self-employed workers are understudied. This study examined four common CHCs that are characterised by persistent symptoms and can prompt major life changes: respiratory disease, heart conditions, inflammatory bowel disease, and cancer survivorship. Groups were compared regarding the CHC's impact on business maintenance (declining in income and activity, and slowing business growth), and well-being. A sample of 294 self-employed workers with these CHCs completed questionnaires about how their conditions affect their businesses, physical symptoms, and well-being. The four CHCs had substantial negative effects on business maintenance. Differences were found in reported changes in income, activity, and growth between individuals with inflammatory bowel disease and cancer. No differences in well-being occurred among self-employed people with different CHCs. In the overall sample, work absences and slowing business growth were negatively associated with well-being. Although the groups differed in the severity of symptoms, threat to life, and treatment regimen, the CHCs had similar effects on most business maintenance factors and well-being. Moreover, the results indicate that the inability to maintain a business can negatively affect well-being.

This study explores the efficacy of the Early Advancement in Social-Emotional Health and Positivity (EASP) programme, designed to enhance personal resources, namely self-compassion and positivity among preschool social workers, to reduce stress and bolster work engagement. A total of 84 preschool social workers (M_age = 32.47 years, SD = 6.86, range = 22-55; female = 90.48%) participated in a 5-week randomized control trial. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 38), which received four online workshops and an online activity, or the wait-list control group (n = 46), which received the intervention post-data collection. Self-compassion, positivity, work engagement, and work stress were measured before and after the intervention. Results from a path analytic model indicated excellent fit with the data, χ2 = 2.08, df = 3, Comparative Fit Index = 1.00, Tucker-Lewis Index = 1.00, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.00 (90% CI = 0.00-0.16), SRMR = 0.03. The intervention demonstrated direct effects on changes in self-compassion (β = 0.21, p = 0.04) and positivity (β = 0.28, p = 0.03), with indirect effects on work engagement (β = 0.13, p = 0.02), while no significant impact was observed on work stress (β = -0.09, p = 0.06). These findings underscore the efficacy of positive psychological interventions in fostering work engagement among social workers. Incorporating the EASP programme into ongoing professional development activities is recommended to enhance the job engagement and psychological well-being of social workers in early childhood education and care sectors.

High performance sport consists of stressor events which can disrupt an athletes' functioning and negatively influence performance. The way in which one reflects upon stressor events and develops insights regarding how they coped is essential to overcoming similar experiences in the future. We conducted a pilot randomised controlled trial with a qualitative analysis to explore the coping insights among 48 highly trained/national level swimmers in the lead up to major swimming competitions, who reflected on stressor events from self-distanced or self-immersed perspectives over a 3-week period. Using the self-reflection and coping insight framework as a guideline, we captured divers coping insights across both groups. Irrespective of the group to which they were assigned, athletes showed positive signs towards re-interpreting their stressor experience and embracing the stressor event, whereas consideration of individual values and adoption of a future-focus viewpoint were areas lacking. The emotionality described by athletes in their written reflections varied across both groups and influenced the development of coping insights. Our findings indicate a necessity to examine the emotionality associated with unique stressor events and consider integrating reflection strategies, while also enhancing the operational definitions within conceptual models of stress reflection protocols.

As coping profiles can offer concrete intervention opportunities, the goal of the present study is to explore latent coping profiles in a sample of 316 student teachers at a German university, using the Brief COPE inventory (Carver, 1997). Furthermore, we aim to test the extent to which students with specific coping profiles differ in the levels of stress (PSS; Schneider et al., 2020) and stressors they perceive. Latent profile analysis (LPA) reveals that a six-profile solution shows the optimal fit, with high entropy. The six profiles include two more support-seeking coping profiles (networking and disengaged copers), withdrawn, cognitive restructuring, avoidant and repertoire-oriented copers. Both more support-seeking coping profiles used in particular strategies concerning seeking social and emotional support, and are associated with less stress. Avoidant and withdrawn copers show unfavourable perceptions of stress levels and stressors. Thus, programs to promote social-emotional support should be implemented in teacher training courses.