OBJECTIVES: We sought to test the hypothesis that providing help to others predicts a reduced association between stress and mortality. METHODS: We examined data from participants (n = 846) in a study in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Participants completed baseline interviews that assessed past-year stressful events and whether the participant had provided tangible assistance to friends or family members. Participant mortality and time to death was monitored for 5 years by way of newspaper obituaries and monthly state death-record tapes. RESULTS: When we adjusted for age, baseline health and functioning, and key psychosocial variables, Cox proportional hazard models for mortality revealed a significant interaction between helping behavior and stressful events (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58; P < .05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35, 0.98). Specifically, stress did not predict mortality risk among individuals who provided help to others in the past year (HR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.79, 1.18), but stress did predict mortality among those who did not provide help to others (HR = 1.30; P < .05; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.62). CONCLUSIONS: Helping others predicted reduced mortality specifically by buffering the association between stress and mortality.
OBJECTIVES: We sought to test the hypothesis that providing help to others predicts a reduced association between stress and mortality. METHODS: We examined data from participants (n = 846) in a study in the Detroit, Michigan, area. Participants completed baseline interviews that assessed past-year stressful events and whether the participant had provided tangible assistance to friends or family members. Participant mortality and time to death was monitored for 5 years by way of newspaper obituaries and monthly state death-record tapes. RESULTS: When we adjusted for age, baseline health and functioning, and key psychosocial variables, Cox proportional hazard models for mortality revealed a significant interaction between helping behavior and stressful events (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.58; P < .05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.35, 0.98). Specifically, stress did not predict mortality risk among individuals who provided help to others in the past year (HR = 0.96; 95% CI = 0.79, 1.18), but stress did predict mortality among those who did not provide help to others (HR = 1.30; P < .05; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.62). CONCLUSIONS: Helping others predicted reduced mortality specifically by buffering the association between stress and mortality.
Authors: David L Roth; William E Haley; Martha Hovater; Martinique Perkins; Virginia G Wadley; Suzanne Judd Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2013-10-03 Impact factor: 4.897
Authors: Tristen K Inagaki; Kate E Bryne Haltom; Shosuke Suzuki; Ivana Jevtic; Erica Hornstein; Julienne E Bower; Naomi I Eisenberger Journal: Psychosom Med Date: 2016-05 Impact factor: 4.312