Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model
Chronic stress has been linked to hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly specified. We suggest that chronic stress poses a risk for hypertension through repeated occurrence of acute stressors (often stemming from the chronic stress context) that cause activation of stress-mediatin...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2012-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Hypertension |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/453465 |
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| _version_ | 1849409815599644672 |
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| author | William Gerin Matthew J. Zawadzki Jos F. Brosschot Julian F. Thayer Nicholas J. S. Christenfeld Tavis S. Campbell Joshua M. Smyth |
| author_facet | William Gerin Matthew J. Zawadzki Jos F. Brosschot Julian F. Thayer Nicholas J. S. Christenfeld Tavis S. Campbell Joshua M. Smyth |
| author_sort | William Gerin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Chronic stress has been linked to hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly specified. We suggest that chronic stress poses a risk for hypertension through repeated occurrence of acute stressors (often stemming from the chronic stress context) that cause activation of stress-mediating physiological systems. Previous models have often focused on the magnitude of the acute physiological response as a risk factor; we attempt to extend this to address the issue of duration of exposure. Key to our model is the notion that these acute stressors can emerge not only in response to stressors present in the environment, but also to mental representations of those (or other) stressors. Consequently, although the experience of any given stressor may be brief, a stressor often results in a constellation of negative cognitions and emotions that form a mental representation of the stressor. Ruminating about this mental representation of the stressful event can cause autonomic activation similar to that observed in response to the original incident, and may occur and persist long after the event itself has ended. Thus, rumination helps explain how chronic stress causes repeated (acute) activation of one’s stress-mediating physiological systems, the effects of which accumulate over time, resulting in hypertension risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79052db55a1d4f0aad9e2143ca4fa10f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2090-0384 2090-0392 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2012-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Hypertension |
| spelling | doaj-art-79052db55a1d4f0aad9e2143ca4fa10f2025-08-20T03:35:23ZengWileyInternational Journal of Hypertension2090-03842090-03922012-01-01201210.1155/2012/453465453465Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal ModelWilliam Gerin0Matthew J. Zawadzki1Jos F. Brosschot2Julian F. Thayer3Nicholas J. S. Christenfeld4Tavis S. Campbell5Joshua M. Smyth6Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 315 HHD East, University Park, PA 16802, USADepartment of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 315 HHD East, University Park, PA 16802, USAClinical Health and Neuropsychology Unit, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The NetherlandsDepartment of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USADepartment of Psychology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 315 HHD East, University Park, PA 16802, USAChronic stress has been linked to hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly specified. We suggest that chronic stress poses a risk for hypertension through repeated occurrence of acute stressors (often stemming from the chronic stress context) that cause activation of stress-mediating physiological systems. Previous models have often focused on the magnitude of the acute physiological response as a risk factor; we attempt to extend this to address the issue of duration of exposure. Key to our model is the notion that these acute stressors can emerge not only in response to stressors present in the environment, but also to mental representations of those (or other) stressors. Consequently, although the experience of any given stressor may be brief, a stressor often results in a constellation of negative cognitions and emotions that form a mental representation of the stressor. Ruminating about this mental representation of the stressful event can cause autonomic activation similar to that observed in response to the original incident, and may occur and persist long after the event itself has ended. Thus, rumination helps explain how chronic stress causes repeated (acute) activation of one’s stress-mediating physiological systems, the effects of which accumulate over time, resulting in hypertension risk.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/453465 |
| spellingShingle | William Gerin Matthew J. Zawadzki Jos F. Brosschot Julian F. Thayer Nicholas J. S. Christenfeld Tavis S. Campbell Joshua M. Smyth Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model International Journal of Hypertension |
| title | Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model |
| title_full | Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model |
| title_fullStr | Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model |
| title_short | Rumination as a Mediator of Chronic Stress Effects on Hypertension: A Causal Model |
| title_sort | rumination as a mediator of chronic stress effects on hypertension a causal model |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/453465 |
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