Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking

BackgroundAlthough the association between stress and NAFLD has been suggested, the effect of perceived stress on MAFLD has yet to be investigated. In this study, we explore the association between perceived stress and MAFLD.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study including 36,847 subjects who u...

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Main Authors: Yan Gong, Shengshu Wang, Jianan Jiang, Qiang Zeng, Weimin Wang, Yansong Zheng, Wenping Lv
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1569992/full
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author Yan Gong
Shengshu Wang
Jianan Jiang
Qiang Zeng
Weimin Wang
Yansong Zheng
Wenping Lv
author_facet Yan Gong
Shengshu Wang
Jianan Jiang
Qiang Zeng
Weimin Wang
Yansong Zheng
Wenping Lv
author_sort Yan Gong
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundAlthough the association between stress and NAFLD has been suggested, the effect of perceived stress on MAFLD has yet to be investigated. In this study, we explore the association between perceived stress and MAFLD.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study including 36,847 subjects who underwent health check-ups from January 2011 to December 2021. MAFLD was defined as both fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction. The level of perceived stress was measured using the Chinese version of the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Logistic regression were performed to explore the association between perceived stress and MAFLD, and mediation analysis were used to examine smoking or drinking that may mediate the effects of perceived stress on MAFLD.ResultsThe prevalence of MAFLD was 37.10% (13,672/36,847). After controlling for sex, age, and BMI, the MAFLD incidence in subjects with a high level of perceived stress was significantly greater than that in subjects with a low level of perceived stress (40.4% vs. 34.9%) (P < 0.001). Perceived stress was positively associated with MAFLD [OR 1.076, 95% CI (1.005–1.153), P = 0.036]. MAFLD subjects with high perceived stress level exhibited higher rates of smoking, drinking and physical inactivity compared with non-MAFLD subjects. The mediation analysis revealed that the association between perceived stress and MAFLD was partially mediated by smoking and drinking, with a synergistic effect observed in individuals engaging in both behaviors.ConclusionsThis study provided evidence for the potential association between perceived stress and MAFLD and the mediation analysis suggested the association of perceived stress and MAFLD was partially mediated by smoking and drinking. Public health strategies should target both smoking and drinking especially in high-stress populations, given their compounded risk for MAFLD.
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spelling doaj-art-303af3c2e9f24437846134987b4b5bc62025-08-20T03:31:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15699921569992Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinkingYan Gong0Shengshu Wang1Jianan Jiang2Qiang Zeng3Weimin Wang4Yansong Zheng5Wenping Lv6Department of Health Medicine, Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Geriatrics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Ageing and Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Second Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaFaculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Health Medicine, Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Health Medicine, Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Health Medicine, Second Medical Center and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disease, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaFaculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, ChinaBackgroundAlthough the association between stress and NAFLD has been suggested, the effect of perceived stress on MAFLD has yet to be investigated. In this study, we explore the association between perceived stress and MAFLD.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional study including 36,847 subjects who underwent health check-ups from January 2011 to December 2021. MAFLD was defined as both fatty liver disease and metabolic dysfunction. The level of perceived stress was measured using the Chinese version of the 14-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). Logistic regression were performed to explore the association between perceived stress and MAFLD, and mediation analysis were used to examine smoking or drinking that may mediate the effects of perceived stress on MAFLD.ResultsThe prevalence of MAFLD was 37.10% (13,672/36,847). After controlling for sex, age, and BMI, the MAFLD incidence in subjects with a high level of perceived stress was significantly greater than that in subjects with a low level of perceived stress (40.4% vs. 34.9%) (P < 0.001). Perceived stress was positively associated with MAFLD [OR 1.076, 95% CI (1.005–1.153), P = 0.036]. MAFLD subjects with high perceived stress level exhibited higher rates of smoking, drinking and physical inactivity compared with non-MAFLD subjects. The mediation analysis revealed that the association between perceived stress and MAFLD was partially mediated by smoking and drinking, with a synergistic effect observed in individuals engaging in both behaviors.ConclusionsThis study provided evidence for the potential association between perceived stress and MAFLD and the mediation analysis suggested the association of perceived stress and MAFLD was partially mediated by smoking and drinking. Public health strategies should target both smoking and drinking especially in high-stress populations, given their compounded risk for MAFLD.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1569992/fullmetabolic-related fatty liver diseaseperceived stressphysical inactivitycausal mediation analysissmokingdrinking
spellingShingle Yan Gong
Shengshu Wang
Jianan Jiang
Qiang Zeng
Weimin Wang
Yansong Zheng
Wenping Lv
Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
Frontiers in Medicine
metabolic-related fatty liver disease
perceived stress
physical inactivity
causal mediation analysis
smoking
drinking
title Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
title_full Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
title_fullStr Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
title_full_unstemmed Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
title_short Association between perceived stress and MAFLD partially mediated by smoking and drinking
title_sort association between perceived stress and mafld partially mediated by smoking and drinking
topic metabolic-related fatty liver disease
perceived stress
physical inactivity
causal mediation analysis
smoking
drinking
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1569992/full
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