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Do Chronic Stressors lead to Physiological Dysregulation? Testing the theory of Allostatic Load

Author

Listed:
  • Dana A. Glei

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Noreen Goldman

    (Princeton University)

  • Maxine Weinstein

    (Georgetown University)

Abstract
Objectives. We explore three questions: 1) Do chronic stressors predict physiological dyregulation? 2) Is that relationship moderated by characteristics of the individual and social environment? and 3) Do perceived levels of stress mediate the relationship between stressors and dysregulation? Methods. Data come from a nationally representative, longitudinal study of older Taiwanese (n=916). Regression models are used to examine the relationship between the number of life challenges (i.e., stressors) during 1996-2000 and physiological dysregulation (in 2000) based on 16 biomarkers that reflect neuroendocrine function, immune system, cardiovascular function, and metabolic pathways. We include interaction terms to test whether psychosocial vulnerability moderates the impact of stressors. Additional models evaluate the mediating effects of perceived stress. Results. We find a significant association between the number of stressors and physiological dysregulation only for those with high vulnerability. Even among this group, the magnitude of the effect is small. The level of perceived stress partly mediates the relationship between chronic stressors and physiological dysregulation. Conclusions. Our results provide some support for the theory of allostatic load, although the relationship between life challenges and physiological dysregulation is weak. The evidence also supports the stress-buffering hypothesis: the combination of low social position, weak social networks, and poor coping ability is associated with increases in the physiological consequences of life challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Dana A. Glei & Noreen Goldman & Maxine Weinstein, 2007. "Do Chronic Stressors lead to Physiological Dysregulation? Testing the theory of Allostatic Load," Working Papers 281, Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Office of Population Research..
    • Handle: RePEc:pri:opopre:opr0701.pdf
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    File URL: https://web.archive.org/web/20130326003206/http://opr.princeton.edu/papers/opr0701.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mary A. Fox & L. Elizabeth Brewer & Lawrence Martin, 2017. "An Overview of Literature Topics Related to Current Concepts, Methods, Tools, and Applications for Cumulative Risk Assessment (2007–2016)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-28, April.
    2. Chioun Lee, 2018. "Adult Children’s Education and Physiological Dysregulation Among Older Parents," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(6), pages 1143-1154.
    3. Noha Gomaa & Michael Glogauer & Howard Tenenbaum & Arjumand Siddiqi & Carlos Quiñonez, 2016. "Social-Biological Interactions in Oral Disease: A ‘Cells to Society’ View," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Marie‐Anne S. Rosemberg & Yang Li & Julia Seng, 2017. "Allostatic load: a useful concept for advancing nursing research," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(23-24), pages 5191-5205, December.
    5. Hugo Westerlund & Per E Gustafsson & Töres Theorell & Urban Janlert & Anne Hammarström, 2012. "Social Adversity in Adolescence Increases the Physiological Vulnerability to Job Strain in Adulthood: A Prospective Population-Based Study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(4), pages 1-8, April.
    6. Ryan, Megan & Gallagher, Stephen & Jetten, Jolanda & Muldoon, Orla T., 2022. "State level income inequality affects cardiovascular stress responses: Evidence from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 311(C).
    7. Alan A Cohen & Qing Li & Emmanuel Milot & Maxime Leroux & Samuel Faucher & Vincent Morissette-Thomas & Véronique Legault & Linda P Fried & Luigi Ferrucci, 2015. "Statistical Distance as a Measure of Physiological Dysregulation Is Largely Robust to Variation in Its Biomarker Composition," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(4), pages 1-25, April.
    8. Shawna Beese & Julie Postma & Janessa M. Graves, 2022. "Allostatic Load Measurement: A Systematic Review of Reviews, Database Inventory, and Considerations for Neighborhood Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-23, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Chronic stressors; physiological dysregulation; allostatic load; perceived stress; stressful experiences; Taiwan;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General

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