Rachel C Sumner1, Stephen Gallagher2,3. 1. a School of Health & Social Care , University of Gloucestershire , Cheltenham , UK. 2. b Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety, Stress & Health (SASHLab), Department of Psychology , University of Limerick , Limerick , Republic of Ireland. 3. c Health Research Institute , University of Limerick , Limerick , Republic of Ireland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Unemployment is a type of chronic stressor that impacts human health. The reasons for how the stress of unemployment affect health is still a matter of discussion. One of the pathways from chronic stress to ill health is mediated by cortisol, and so we set out to compile extant data on how its secretion is affected by unemployment. DESIGN: A systematic literature search was conducted to establish the cortisol dysregulatory effects of this stressor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Only studies that specifically examined the effects of unemployment on cortisol excretion, and were written in English were included. RESULTS: Ten reports were obtained and synthesised to determine the severity and complexity of the effect of unemployment on cortisol secretion. The resulting combined evidence is mixed in terms of degree or dynamic of relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the cumulate findings of the studies can be understood in the context of the lack of both standardised methodology and an absence of consensus on unemployment definition. We propose existing methodologies may be strengthened by acknowledging and accounting for the individual characteristics that may be relevant to the stress experience of unemployment.
OBJECTIVE: Unemployment is a type of chronic stressor that impacts human health. The reasons for how the stress of unemployment affect health is still a matter of discussion. One of the pathways from chronic stress to ill health is mediated by cortisol, and so we set out to compile extant data on how its secretion is affected by unemployment. DESIGN: A systematic literature search was conducted to establish the cortisol dysregulatory effects of this stressor. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Only studies that specifically examined the effects of unemployment on cortisol excretion, and were written in English were included. RESULTS: Ten reports were obtained and synthesised to determine the severity and complexity of the effect of unemployment on cortisol secretion. The resulting combined evidence is mixed in terms of degree or dynamic of relationship. CONCLUSIONS: The differences between the cumulate findings of the studies can be understood in the context of the lack of both standardised methodology and an absence of consensus on unemployment definition. We propose existing methodologies may be strengthened by acknowledging and accounting for the individual characteristics that may be relevant to the stress experience of unemployment.
Authors: Francisca M Vera; Juan M Manzaneque; Gabriel A Carranque; Francisco M Rodríguez-Peña; Soledad Sánchez-Montes; María J Blanca Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2018-10-16 Impact factor: 2.629
Authors: Mireia Bolibar; Francesc Xavier Belvis; Pere Jódar; Alejandra Vives; Fabrizio Méndez; Xavier Bartoll-Roca; Oscar J Pozo; Alex Gomez-Gomez; Eva Padrosa; Joan Benach; Mireia Julià Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-03-30