Journal article 74 views
Primary and secondary allostatic processes in the context of high-stress work: A multigroup moderation from the English longitudinal study of ageing
Thomas O’Toole,
Christopher J. Armitage,
Martie van Tongeren,
Kim Dienes 
Psychoneuroendocrinology, Volume: 171, Start page: 107193
Swansea University Author:
Kim Dienes
Full text not available from this repository: check for access using links below.
DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107193
Abstract
Evidence suggests that chronic cortisol excess may precede the development of an allostatic load, and that this association may be influenced by the level of work stress. This study aims to investigate the associations between hair cortisol concentration and the development of systemic allostatic lo...
| Published in: | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
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| ISSN: | 0306-4530 1873-3360 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2025
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa68315 |
| Abstract: |
Evidence suggests that chronic cortisol excess may precede the development of an allostatic load, and that this association may be influenced by the level of work stress. This study aims to investigate the associations between hair cortisol concentration and the development of systemic allostatic load cross-sectionally and at a lag of four years, stratified by level of effort-reward imbalance.The sample consisted of respondents from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA) who were in employment with hair cortisol measurements at baseline (wave 6), and allostatic load markers at baseline and follow-up (wave 8; n=411; 64 % female). Hair cortisol was used as a measure of total cortisol expression over the preceding two months. Allostatic load was modelled as a count-based index using nine markers; three per system, across the immune, metabolic and cardiovascular systems. This model was then grouped by a median-cut effort reward-imbalance scale (0.83) and regression pathways were compared between groups using a series of Chi-Squared tests of difference.Results provide evidence that higher hair cortisol concentrations predict an increase in immune and cardiovascular allostatic load cross-sectionally, and a metabolic allostatic load at a lag of four years. These pathways were found in the high effort-reward imbalance group, but not in the low effort-reward imbalance group. There were also significant differences found between groups for hair cortisol concentration as a predictor of concurrent immune and cardiovascular allostatic loadFindings may indicate a novel temporality to the accumulation of an allostatic load, and that the “tipping point” between allostasis and allostatic load may lie within the ability of the HPA axis to regulate the cardiovascular system concurrently, with longitudinal consequences for metabolic syndrome indicators. |
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| Keywords: |
Allostatic Load, Allostasis, Hair Cortisol, Cohort Study, Effort-Reward Imbalance |
| College: |
Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
| Funders: |
This study has been delivered through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) (NIHR203308) and the NIHR Greater Manchester Patient Safety Research Collaboration. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. |
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107193 |