Cited by 293Stress Responses and CortisolHealth and Well-being StudiesTryptophan and brain disorders

Chronic stress, daily stressors, and circulating inflammatory markers

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Gouin, Jean-Philippe, Glaser, Ronald, Malarkey, William B., Beversdorf, David, Kiecolt-Glaser, Janice·2012·Health Psychology

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Acute laboratory stressors elicit elevations in serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Chronic stressors, such as family dementia caregiving, promote a state of chronic low-grade elevation in circulating inflammatory markers. The recurrent daily stressors associated with chronic stress may lead to repeated and sustained activation of the physiological stress systems. The present study evaluated the possibility that greater exposure and reactivity to daily stressors fueled increased levels of circulating inflammatory markers among family dementia caregivers, compared with noncaregiving controls. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 53 caregivers and 77 noncaregiving controls. A semistructured interview assessed the occurrence of daily stressors in the past 24 h. A blood sample provided data on two inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). RESULTS: Caregivers were more likely to experience multiple stressors in the past 24 h than noncaregiving controls. The occurrence of multiple daily stressors was associated with greater serum IL-6 and CRP levels. The greater occurrence of daily stressors in the past 24 h partially mediated the relationship between dementia caregiving and CRP levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the cumulative effect of daily stressors promotes elevations in inflammatory markers. Greater exposure to daily stressors may be a psychobiological mechanism leading to elevations in CRP levels among family dementia caregivers.

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  • Stress-induced dysbiosis, with subsequent impaired intestinal barrier and bacterial translocation, has been proposed as a key molecular mechanism that stimulates innate immune activity and contributes to the association between chronic psychological stressors and systemic inflammation in humans.

    “Stress-induced dysbiosis (and the subsequent impaired intestinal barrier and bacterial translocation) has been proposed as a key molecular mechanism that stimulates innate immune activity and contributes to the association between chronic psychological stressors and systemic inflammation in humans [69,70].”

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Authors
Gouin, J.-P., Glaser, R., Malarkey, W. B., Beversdorf, D., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J.
Affiliations
  • The Ohio State University (US)
  • The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (US)
  • University of Missouri (US)
Corresponding author
Gouin, Jean-Philippe
Venue
Health Psychology
Published
2012-03
Volume
31
Issue
2
Pages
264-268
ISSN
  • 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
  • 1930-7810
OpenAlex
W2038138146
Cited by
293
References
16
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (AG025732, UL1RR025755)
  • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center Core (CA16058)
  • Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Health and Well-being Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
chronic stress, daily hassles, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, inflammatory markers, psychoneuroimmunology, caregiver burden
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alzheimer Disease, C-Reactive Protein, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Male, Middle Aged, Stress, Psychological, Biomarkers, Interleukin-6, Case-Control Studies, Caregivers

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