Stressful Life Events, Perceived Stress and Somatic Problems Among Young People in Hong Kong

BackgroundStressful life events have long been suspected to contribute to multiple sclerosis (MS) disease activity. The few studies examining the relationship between stressful events and neuroimaging markers have been small and inconsistent. This study examined whether different types of stressful events and perceived stress could predict the development of brain lesions.MethodThis was a secondary analysis of 121 patients with MS followed for 48 weeks during a randomized controlled trial comparing stress management therapy for MS (SMT-MS) to a waitlist control (WLC). Patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans every 8 weeks. Every month, patients completed an interview measure assessing stressful life events and self-report measures of perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms, which were used to predict the presence of gadolinium-enhancing (Gd+) and T2 lesions on MRI scans 29–62 days later. Participants classified stressful events as positive or negative. Negative events were considered ‘major’ if they involved physical threat or threat to the patient's family structure, and ‘moderate’ otherwise.ResultsPositive stressful events predicted decreased risk for subsequent Gd+ lesions in the control group [odds ratio (OR) 0.53 for each additional positive stressful event, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30–0.91] and less risk for new or enlarging T2 lesions regardless of group assignment (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.55–0.99). Across groups, major negative stressful events predicted Gd+ lesions (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.18–2.64) and new or enlarging T2 lesions (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.11–2.23) whereas moderate negative stressful events, perceived stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms did not.ConclusionsMajor negative stressful events predict increased risk for Gd+ and T2 lesions whereas positive stressful events predict decreased risk.

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The impact of prior exposure to stressful life events and current perceived stress on heart rate variability in older adults: Results from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing

Psychoneuroendocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.529 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 ◽

pp. 51 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Joanne Feeney ◽

Rose Anne Kenny

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Prior Exposure ◽

Stressful Life ◽

The Impact

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Association of Stress with Risk of Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-210094 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Katherine H. Franks ◽

Lisa Bransby ◽

Michael M. Saling ◽

Matthew P. Pase

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Total N ◽

Increased Risk

Background: Although many studies have investigated the association between stress and risk of dementia, findings are inconsistent due to the variation in the measures used to assess stress. Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between psychological stress (including neuroticism, stressful life events, and perceived stress) and the risk of incident dementia and mild cognitive impairment in adults. Methods: PsycINFO, Embase, and MEDLINE were searched to October 2020 for eligible observational, prospective studies. Of the 1,607 studies screened, 26 (24 unique cohorts) were included in the qualitative analysis and 16 (15 unique cohorts) were included in the quantitative analysis. Results: Across studies, higher perceived stress was significantly associated with an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (Cases/Total N = 207/860: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03–1.38) and all-cause dementia (Cases/Total N = 203/1,882: HR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.07–1.95). Exposure to two or more stressful life events (versus none) was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (Cases/Total N = 3,354/11,597: HR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.14–2.60), while one or more stressful life events was not. Higher neuroticism was significantly associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia (Cases/Total N = 497/4,771: HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01–1.12), but not all-cause dementia. Conclusion: This review suggests that psychological stress in adulthood is associated with an increased risk of dementia. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying these associations.

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Emotion Dysregulation Moderates the Association Between Stress and Problematic Cannabis Use

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2020.597789 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Jessica M. Cavalli ◽

Anita Cservenka

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Life Stress ◽

Emotion Dysregulation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Cannabis Use ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Demographic Questionnaire ◽

Difficulties In Emotion Regulation

Background: Research suggests emotion dysregulation is a transdiagnostic risk factor for substance use and addiction and that stress may lead to problematic cannabis use. Thus, the current study examines how emotion dysregulation moderates the associations between stress (stressful life events and perceived stress) and problematic cannabis use.Methods: Eight hundred and fifty-two adults reporting any lifetime cannabis use completed an anonymous online survey. Participants completed a brief demographic questionnaire and were asked to report their past 30-day use of cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, and illicit substances. Problematic cannabis use (via the Marijuana Problem Scale), emotion dysregulation (via the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale), perceived stress (via the Perceived Stress Scale), and stressful life events (via the Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory) were assessed. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions were conducted.Results: Findings indicate that when examining the moderating role of emotion dysregulation, more stressful life events and less perceived stress were associated with more severe problematic cannabis use, and these associations were stronger at higher levels of emotion dysregulation.Conclusions: These results demonstrate a strong step toward understanding how emotion dysregulation moderates the relationship between stress and problematic cannabis use; however, longitudinal studies are needed to determine directionality of effects. Overall, these results suggest the importance of examining emotion dysregulation as a moderator of both stressful life events and stress perception as they relate to problematic cannabis use.

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Stressful Life Events In First Episode Psychosis

Journal of Psychiatrists Association of Nepal ◽

10.3126/jpan.v10i1.40346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 38-42

Author(s):

B.D. Karki ◽

D. Joshi ◽

A.P. Adhikari

Keyword(s):

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

First Episode Psychosis ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

First Episode ◽

Psychotic Episode ◽

Episode Psychosis

Introduction: First episode psychosis refers to the first time someone experiences psychotic symptoms or a psychotic episode. There are evidences related to the role of major life events and childhood trauma in the development of first episode psychosis. There are few studies regarding the environmental exposure to stressful life events and how these events might influence the onset of a psychotic disorder, and role of perceived stress. This study aimed to identify the relationship between stressful life events and first episode psychosis in Nepalese context. Material And Method: It was a hospital based cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 50 cases of first episode psychosis were included and the diagnosis was made according to ICD 10- Diagnostic Criteria for Research and verified by two consultant psychiatrists. Semi Structured Performa was designed to collect the information about the socio demographic data and perceived stress was assessed with Presumptive Stressful Life Events Scale (PSLES). Results: There were 62% female and 38% male patients with first episode psychosis with mean age 26.32 years. Majority of the participants were from rural areas (94%), married (58%), educated up to primary level (38%) and housewife (40%). 60.7% of ATPD had stressful life events (P =0. 000)which was higher than the stressful life events in patient with Schizophrenia (P =0. 005). There was a positive correlation between stressful life events and gender, setting, socioeconomic status and Diagnosis (P <0.05). Conclusion: Results show the relevance of presence of stressful life events as a potent source of perceived stress in first episode psychosis sample. Therefore this study highlights the importance of psychosocial intervention in this vulnerable group for management of illness and might be an important strategy for prevention.

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COVID-19: Companion Animals Help People Cope during Government-Imposed Social Isolation

Society and Animals ◽

10.1163/15685306-bja10035 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Elizabeth Johnson ◽

Shelly Volsche

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Social Isolation ◽

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Companion Animals ◽

Likert Scale ◽

Living Alone ◽

Stressful Life ◽

The Impact

Abstract This research explores the impact of government-imposed social isolation orders on homes with companion animals. Data were collected April through May 2020, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey of 234 Americans observing social isolation orders included demographic questions; questions about relationships to other persons and companion animals within the home; and Likert-scale questions designed to probe the complexities of these relationships and their influences on perceived stress and isolation. We hypothesized that the presence of companion animals helps to mitigate stressors related to observing social isolation orders, with those living alone experiencing more benefit and homes with children experiencing less. The results suggest that the presence of companion animals alleviates stress and isolation by providing attachment figures and activities on which to focus one’s energy. These results support that companion animals are increasingly viewed as members of one’s family and provide social support during stressful life events.

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Mediating Role of Social Support on the Relationship among Depression Perceive Stress, Stressful Life Event and Cardiovascular Diseases

Review of Applied Management and Social Sciences ◽

10.47067/ramss.v3i1.26 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Khansa Mubashir ◽

Ruqia Safdar Bajwa ◽

Malik Mureed Hussain

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Life Events ◽

Perceived Stress ◽

Stressful Life Events ◽

Stressful Life ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Psychological Stressors ◽

Cardiovascular Patients ◽

The Relationship

Study was designed to examine the relationship between well-being and environmental factors and their influence on cardiovascular disease. Cross sectional and co-relational research design were adopted. Data was collected over a span of 04 months from Multan Institute of Cardiology (MIC) and from the cardiology ward 1-A Nishtar Hospital Multan. A purposive sample of 200 cardiovascular patients was requested to provide information regarding stressful life events, perceived stress, depression, social support and cardiovascular diseases. Sample of 200 cardiovascular patients consisted of 100 males and 100 females. Independent sample t-test, ANOVA as well as PLS-SEM (structural equation modeling) was used to examine the hypothesis. Results informed about the positive impact of psychological stressors on cardiovascular diseases which was partly mediated by social support, because social support effect the way CVD patients perceives the stress full events as well as decrease the threshold of psychological stressors. It was concluded that psychological stressors (Depression, Perceived stress, Stressful life events) and low social support increases the severity of cardiovascular diseases within a short duration among cardiovascular patients. Patients with mild psychological stressors and high social support sustain a milder form of CVD disease e.g. Hypertension for longer time duration without shifting to sever form of cardiovascular diseases while on the other hand contrary happen in the case of high level of psychological stressors and lower level of social support.

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