Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study

We examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NAS men (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs ove...

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Main Authors: Carolyn M. Aldwin, Nuoo-Ting Molitor, Avron Spiro, Michael R. Levenson, John Molitor, Heidi Igarashi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/896109
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author Carolyn M. Aldwin
Nuoo-Ting Molitor
Avron Spiro
Michael R. Levenson
John Molitor
Heidi Igarashi
author_facet Carolyn M. Aldwin
Nuoo-Ting Molitor
Avron Spiro
Michael R. Levenson
John Molitor
Heidi Igarashi
author_sort Carolyn M. Aldwin
collection DOAJ
description We examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NAS men (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs over 18 years (total observations = 7,634). Using a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model, we identified four patterns of SLE trajectories, three showing linear decreases over time with low, medium, and high intercepts, respectively, and one an inverted U, peaking at age 70. Repeating the analysis omitting two health-related SLEs yielded only the first three linear patterns. Compared to the low-stress group, both the moderate and the high-stress groups showed excess mortality, controlling for demographics and health behavior habits, HRs = 1.42 and 1.37, ps <.01 and <.05. The relationship between stress trajectories and mortality was complex and not easily explained by either theoretical model.
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spelling doaj-art-f4ec997ca8b14db4bc34fb28dffb2ba92025-08-20T03:25:23ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122011-01-01201110.4061/2011/896109896109Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging StudyCarolyn M. Aldwin0Nuoo-Ting Molitor1Avron Spiro2Michael R. Levenson3John Molitor4Heidi Igarashi5Human Development & Family Sciences, School of Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAHuman Development & Family Sciences, School of Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USANormative Aging Study, VA Boston Healthcare System (151MAV), 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, USAHuman Development & Family Sciences, School of Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAHuman Development & Family Sciences, School of Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAHuman Development & Family Sciences, School of Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, College of Public Health & Human Sciences, Oregon State University, Milam Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAWe examined long-term patterns of stressful life events (SLE) and their impact on mortality contrasting two theoretical models: allostatic load (linear relationship) and hormesis (inverted U relationship) in 1443 NAS men (aged 41–87 in 1985; M = 60.30, SD = 7.3) with at least two reports of SLEs over 18 years (total observations = 7,634). Using a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model, we identified four patterns of SLE trajectories, three showing linear decreases over time with low, medium, and high intercepts, respectively, and one an inverted U, peaking at age 70. Repeating the analysis omitting two health-related SLEs yielded only the first three linear patterns. Compared to the low-stress group, both the moderate and the high-stress groups showed excess mortality, controlling for demographics and health behavior habits, HRs = 1.42 and 1.37, ps <.01 and <.05. The relationship between stress trajectories and mortality was complex and not easily explained by either theoretical model.http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/896109
spellingShingle Carolyn M. Aldwin
Nuoo-Ting Molitor
Avron Spiro
Michael R. Levenson
John Molitor
Heidi Igarashi
Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
Journal of Aging Research
title Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
title_full Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
title_fullStr Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
title_full_unstemmed Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
title_short Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men? Longitudinal Findings from the VA Normative Aging Study
title_sort do stress trajectories predict mortality in older men longitudinal findings from the va normative aging study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/896109
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