Jade Johnson1, Isabelle Chaudieu2, Karen Ritchie3, Jacqueline Scali2, Marie-Laure Ancelin2, Joanne Ryan4. 1. School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 2. INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France. 3. INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France; Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK. 4. School of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; INSERM, Univ Montpellier, Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, Montpellier, France. Electronic address: joanne.ryan@monash.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Psychological stress is recognized as a major risk factor for a range of non-communicable diseases and possibly mortality. The extent to which the type and timing of stress exposure influences mortality, and potential differences between genders, remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between early-life and recent stressful experiences and mortality risk in later life, and to determine possible gender differences in these associations. METHOD: Data were obtained from 2152 French community-dwelling participants (aged ≥65). Questionnaires were used to evaluate recent stress, as well as retrospective reporting of childhood adversity. Mortality status was determined through death registries. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association between stress and 16-year mortality risk. RESULTS: Over a mean 12.9 years, 850 people died. Having a childhood home environment with very serious conflicts was associated with a 54% increased mortality risk (95%CI:1.21-1.96), and childhood abuse/maltreatment with a 34% increased risk (95% CI:1.05-1.70). For females, specific childhood events (serious illness HR:1.91, 95%CI:1.40-2.60; war/natural disaster HR:1.47, 95%CI:1.14-1.88) and the number of events (≥5 adverse events HR:1.91, 95%CI:1.25-2.32), also increased mortality risk. In terms of recent events, mortality risk increased by 66% (95%CI:1.39-2.00) in participants reporting a recent serious illness or physical trauma and by 86% for those reporting problems with the police/justice (95%CI:1.05-3.30). Among males specifically, mortality risk also increased with major financial problems (HR:1.92, 95%CI:1.14-3.21), and when they had a relative with a serious illness (HR:1.26, 95%CI:1.01-1.55). CONCLUSIONS: Stressful life experiences are associated with all-cause mortality however the associations varied between early-life adversities and recent stress, and were different across the genders. Among females, certain types of childhood adversity continue to predict mortality risk in later life, while in males specific recent stress significantly increased mortality risk.
BACKGROUND: Psychological stress is recognized as a major risk factor for a range of non-communicable diseases and possibly mortality. The extent to which the type and timing of stress exposure influences mortality, and potential differences between genders, remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between early-life and recent stressful experiences and mortality risk in later life, and to determine possible gender differences in these associations. METHOD: Data were obtained from 2152 French community-dwelling participants (aged ≥65). Questionnaires were used to evaluate recent stress, as well as retrospective reporting of childhood adversity. Mortality status was determined through death registries. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the association between stress and 16-year mortality risk. RESULTS: Over a mean 12.9 years, 850 people died. Having a childhood home environment with very serious conflicts was associated with a 54% increased mortality risk (95%CI:1.21-1.96), and childhood abuse/maltreatment with a 34% increased risk (95% CI:1.05-1.70). For females, specific childhood events (serious illness HR:1.91, 95%CI:1.40-2.60; war/natural disaster HR:1.47, 95%CI:1.14-1.88) and the number of events (≥5 adverse events HR:1.91, 95%CI:1.25-2.32), also increased mortality risk. In terms of recent events, mortality risk increased by 66% (95%CI:1.39-2.00) in participants reporting a recent serious illness or physical trauma and by 86% for those reporting problems with the police/justice (95%CI:1.05-3.30). Among males specifically, mortality risk also increased with major financial problems (HR:1.92, 95%CI:1.14-3.21), and when they had a relative with a serious illness (HR:1.26, 95%CI:1.01-1.55). CONCLUSIONS: Stressful life experiences are associated with all-cause mortality however the associations varied between early-life adversities and recent stress, and were different across the genders. Among females, certain types of childhood adversity continue to predict mortality risk in later life, while in males specific recent stress significantly increased mortality risk.
Authors: David Bürgin; Vera Clemens; Nimmy Varghese; Anne Eckert; Mara Huber; Evelyne Bruttin; Cyril Boonmann; Eva Unternährer; Aoife O'Donovan; Marc Schmid Journal: Brain Behav Immun Health Date: 2022-09-30
Authors: Kate Keenan; Haoyi Fu; Irene Tung; Johnny Berona; Robert T Krafty; Alison E Hipwell; Stephanie D Stepp; Kristen Carpio Journal: SSM Popul Health Date: 2021-11-30