Abstract
Background
Chronic psychological stress may pose a serious threat to health, although the mechanisms
are not fully understood. This study examines the impact of stress on modifiable lifestyle
factors, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and chronic illness
in older Australian women.
Methods
Cross-sectional data were collected from a random sample of 181 older adults aged
60 to 70 years from rural and urban areas of South-East Queensland, Australia. We
used structural equation modelling to examine associations between stress, modifiable
lifestyle factors, HRQOL, and chronic illness.
Findings
Parameter estimates show that older women who reported life stressors where they felt
helpless and feared for their life (high-magnitude stressors) also reported higher
body mass index (p = .03) and more chronic illness (p < .01). In contrast, duration of exposure to life stressors was associated with higher
depressive symptom scores (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; p = .02) and sleep disturbance scores (p < .01).
Conclusions
Our findings support the link between traumatic personal histories (exposure to high-magnitude
stressors) and unhealthy lifestyle factors. Findings highlight the need for more research
on how stress reduction, a healthy lifestyle, and positive coping strategies can be
used to reduce the effects of high-magnitude stress on HRQOL and chronic illness.
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Biography
Charrlotte Seib, PhD, is an early career researcher (ECR) in the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Her primary interest is on the impact of stress on women's health and wellbeing.
Biography
Eliza Whiteside, PhD, is an ECR in the field of biochemistry, cell and molecular biology. Her primary focus is on the effects of altered hormonal milieu on breast cell biology and subsequent breast cancer development.
Biography
Kathryn Lee, RN, CBSM, PhD, FAAN, is a Professor of Nursing, Associate Dean for Research, and the James and Marjorie Livingston Endowed Chair in the Department of Family Health Care Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco.
Biography
Janice Humphreys, PhD, RN, FAAN, is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Duke University School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the health effects of intimate partner violence on women and their children.
Biography
Tiet Hanh Dao Tran, MN, is a PhD student within the Women's Wellness Research Program at QUT. Her research focuses on cross-cultural differences in women's health following exposure to stressful life experiences.
Biography
Lisa Chopin, PhD, is an Associate Professor and the Ghrelin Group Leader within the Cells and Tissues Domain at QUT. Her interests include ghrelin function and signalling mechanisms and the role of the ghrelin axis in breast, ovarian and prostate cancer.
Biography
Debra Anderson, PhD, is a Professor in Nursing, Director of Research, and the Director of the Women's Wellness Research Program at QUT. Her primary focus is in the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions to promote women's health.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 12,
2013
Received in revised form:
November 11,
2013
Received:
July 3,
2013
Footnotes
Funding for this research was received from the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Early Career Researcher Grant Scheme (Queensland University of Technology) and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation Collaborative Grants scheme (Queensland University of Technology) to CS and EW.
Disclosure Statement: No competing financial interests exist.
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
