Steven H Zarit1, Courtney A Whetzel2, Kyungmin Kim3, Elia E Femia4, David M Almeida5, Michael J Rovine4, Laura Cousino Klein6. 1. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. Electronic address: szarit@psu.edu. 2. Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 3. Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX. 4. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 5. Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA. 6. Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; Institute of the Neurosciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study examines effects of daily use of adult day service (ADS) programs by caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWD) on a salivary biomarker of stress reactivity, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), and whether these effects on DHEA-S are associated with daily variability in positive mood and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We used a daily diary design of 8 consecutive days with alternation of intervention (ADS) and nonintervention days to evaluate within- and between-person effects of the intervention. Family caregivers (N = 151) of IWD who were using ADS were interviewed daily by telephone at home. Saliva samples were collected from caregivers five times a day for 8 consecutive days and were assayed for DHEA-S. Daily telephone interviews assessed daily stressors and mood. RESULTS: DHEA-S levels were significantly higher on days after ADS use. Daily DHEA-S levels covaried significantly with daily positive mood but not with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate an association of ADS use by family caregivers and higher DHEA-S levels on the next day. Prior research has found that higher DHEA-S levels are protective against the physiologic damaging effects of stressor exposure and may reduce risks of illness. Regular use of ADS may help reduce depletion of DHEA-S and allow the body to mount a protective and restorative response to the physiologic demands of caregiving. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine DHEA-S levels across the day in connection with an intervention that affected daily exposure to stressors.
OBJECTIVE: This study examines effects of daily use of adult day service (ADS) programs by caregivers of individuals with dementia (IWD) on a salivary biomarker of stress reactivity, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S), and whether these effects on DHEA-S are associated with daily variability in positive mood and depressive symptoms. METHODS: We used a daily diary design of 8 consecutive days with alternation of intervention (ADS) and nonintervention days to evaluate within- and between-person effects of the intervention. Family caregivers (N = 151) of IWD who were using ADS were interviewed daily by telephone at home. Saliva samples were collected from caregivers five times a day for 8 consecutive days and were assayed for DHEA-S. Daily telephone interviews assessed daily stressors and mood. RESULTS:DHEA-S levels were significantly higher on days after ADS use. Daily DHEA-S levels covaried significantly with daily positive mood but not with depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate an association of ADS use by family caregivers and higher DHEA-S levels on the next day. Prior research has found that higher DHEA-S levels are protective against the physiologic damaging effects of stressor exposure and may reduce risks of illness. Regular use of ADS may help reduce depletion of DHEA-S and allow the body to mount a protective and restorative response to the physiologic demands of caregiving. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine DHEA-S levels across the day in connection with an intervention that affected daily exposure to stressors.
Authors: Beatrix Davoli Capistrant; J Robin Moon; Lisa F Berkman; M Maria Glymour Journal: J Epidemiol Community Health Date: 2011-11-11 Impact factor: 6.286
Authors: Yin Liu; Douglas A Granger; Kyungmin Kim; Laura C Klein; David M Almeida; Steven H Zarit Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2016-10-27 Impact factor: 4.267