Monday Anxieties Carve Deep Grooves in Long-Term Stress
In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers from the University of Hong Kong have uncovered a significant biological link between Monday anxiety and heart health risks in older adults. The study, led by Professor Tarani Chandola from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, reveals that the stress associated with Mondays could potentially unlock new strategies to combat heart disease in aging populations.
The research, which involved 3,511 adults aged 50 years and older living in England from 2012 to 2013, was conducted as part of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing at wave 6. The main outcome measures of the study were levels of hair cortisol and total glucocorticoid production, key components of the body's stress response system known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
The study investigated whether the association between perceived anxiety and HPA-axis dysregulation is greater on Mondays than on other days of the week. The findings suggest that both working and nonworking older adults are at risk of HPA-axis dysregulation associated with the start of the week.
The study found that older adults who felt anxious on Mondays had 23% higher cortisol levels in the hair samples collected up to two months later than those who reported anxiety on other days. This elevated cortisol level is associated with chronic stress, and around three-quarters of the differences in HPA-axis dysregulation between Mondays and other days were due to the differential effects of the characteristics of older adults who reported feeling anxious on Mondays.
The "Anxious Monday" effect was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, indicating that the stress is not solely related to workplace pressures but is deeply ingrained in the cultural transition to a new week. The study underscores how the "Monday blues" can become biologically embedded, with chronic stress hormone dysregulation posing long-term cardiovascular risks.
The findings of the study suggest that societal rhythms, not just job demands, embed themselves in human physiology, with lasting health risks. In particular, the study identifies HPA-axis dysregulation as a potential biological bridge linking Mondays to a 19% spike in heart attacks.
In conclusion, the biological link between Monday anxiety and heart health risks is rooted in the chronic dysregulation of the HPA axis, leading to sustained elevated cortisol levels, which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The study underscores the importance of addressing Monday-specific stress as a potential strategy to combat heart disease in aging populations.
- Neuroscience news reported a longitudinal study conducted by the University of Hong Kong, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, revealing a significant biological link between Monday anxiety and heart health risks in older adults.
- This research, part of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing at wave 6, investigated 3,511 adults aged 50 years and older in England from 2012 to 2013, focusing on levels of hair cortisol and total glucocorticoid production associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
- The study found that older adults who felt anxious on Mondays had 23% higher cortisol levels in their hair samples compared to those who reported anxiety on other days, a finding linked to chronic stress.
- The "Anxious Monday" effect was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, highlighting the cultural transition to a new week as the source of stress, not solely job demands.
- The study identified HPA-axis dysregulation as a potential biological bridge linking Mondays to a 19% spike in heart attacks, underscoring the importance of medical-conditions related to cardiovascular-health and mental-health in health-and-wellness.
- The findings of the study suggest that addressing Monday-specific stress could become a potential strategy to combat heart disease in aging populations, as highlighted in science and the field of psychology.
- The study emphasized that societal rhythms, including the "Monday blues," can become biologically embedded, with long-term implications for the aging population's health and wellness.
