Do Stress Trajectories Predict Mortality in Older Men?
Author Information
Author(s): Carolyn M. Aldwin, Nuoo-Ting Molitor, Avron Spiro III, Michael R. Levenson, John Molitor, Heidi Igarashi
Primary Institution: Oregon State University
Hypothesis
We hypothesized that life events would increase until approximately age 65 and decrease thereafter.
Conclusion
The study found that both moderate and high-stress groups showed higher mortality rates compared to the low-stress group.
Supporting Evidence
- Three patterns of stress trajectories showed linear decreases over time.
- Moderate and high-stress groups had higher mortality rates than the low-stress group.
- The study used 18 years of data from the VA Normative Aging Study.
Takeaway
This study looked at how stress over time affects how long older men live, finding that too much or too little stress can be bad for health.
Methodology
The study used a zero-inflated Poisson growth mixture model to identify patterns of stressful life events and their impact on mortality over 18 years.
Limitations
The sample consisted primarily of white, middle-class men, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
The participants were primarily white, middle-class men aged 41-87 at the start of the study.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
(1.14, 1.76) for moderate stress; (1.01, 1.87) for high stress
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website