Work

Affective Reactivity to Daily Stressors and Long-Term Risk of Reporting a Chronic Physical Health Condition

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Daily stressors, such as an argument with a spouse or an impending deadline, are associated with short-term changes in physical health symptoms. Whether these minor hassles have long-term physical health ramifications, however, is largely unknown. PURPOSE: The current study examined whether exposure and reactivity to daily stressors is associated with long-term risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition. METHODS: Participants (N = 435) from the National Study of Daily Experiences completed a series of daily diary interviews between 1995 and 1996 and again 10 years later. RESULTS: Greater affective (i.e., emotional) reactivity to daily stressors at time 1 was associated with an increased risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition at time 2. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that how people respond to the daily stressors in their lives is predictive of future chronic health conditions.

Source: Annals of Behavioral Medicine

DOI: 10.1007/s12160-012-9423-0

Authors: Jennifer R. Piazza, Susan T. Charles, Martin J. Sliwinski, Jacqueline Mogle, David M. Almeida

Institutions: Pennsylvania State University, California State University, Fullerton, University of California, Irvine

Language: English

Topic: Stress Responses and Cortisol

Subfield: Behavioral Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institute on Aging, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development