Allostatic load in an environmental riskscape: The role of stressors and gender

Abstract

Stressors are theorized to be associated with higher allostatic load (AL), a concept of physiological wear measured as a composite of physical biomarkers. Risk of high AL may vary by gender and may be intensified in places with significant environmental risks, otherwise known as ‘environmental riskscapes’. Yet, no study has examined the relationship between stressors, gender, and allostatic load in an environmental riskscape. Using primary data collected in a sample (N=1072) exposed to various environmental and social stressors, we find that long-term residence in Texas City (more than 30 years), residential proximity to petrochemical plants, perceived poor neighborhood conditions, and daily hassles are associated with higher allostatic load components. Variation in AL differs by gender and the types of biomarkers examined. Gender moderates the effect of length of residence in Texas City on cardiovascular health risk. We discuss our findings in light of current research on stressors, gender, allostatic load, and double jeopardy within environmental riskscapes.

Neighborhood features and physiological risk: An examination of allostatic load

“…Furthermore, perceptions of both neighborhood safety and cohesion are related to various health outcomes (e.g., Meyer et al, 2014; Murayama et al, 2012). Perceptions of neighborhood characteristics (e.g., observed and perceived crime and disorder) and personal safety, and to a lesser degree social cohesion, are also associated with physiological functioning and risk (Mair, Cutchin, & Peek, 2011; Mujahid et al, 2008; Schulz et al, 2013). …”

Allostatic load as a complex clinical construct: A case‐based computational modeling approach

“…For example, as Gallo et al state, “In contrast to the common practice of examining risk factors within a single physiological system, the allostatic load framework provides an integrative approach that may better characterize the cumulative impact of dynamic and nonlinear influences across major biological regulatory systems.” [12] In this way, AL links to a variety of fields (from medical sociology and medicine to human biology and public health) focused on the negative impact that stress events have on health and wellbeing; particularly across the life-course and across different antecedent socioecological factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, mental status, psychological trauma, residence, occupation and—a current major focus—health disparities [8–11,13–19]. For example, regarding health disparities, Beckie [19] states, “The theoretical constructs of allostasis and allostatic load (AL) have contributed to our understanding of how constantly changing social and environmental factors impact physiological functioning and shape health and aging disparities, particularly along socioeconomic, gendered, racial, and ethnic lines” (p. 311).…”

Family Environment and the Metabolic Syndrome: Results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study (SCAS)

“…Although the current study did not specifically evaluate marital relations or satisfaction, marital stress, or communication patterns, there is some prior evidence suggesting that family relations and specifically marital discord may indeed have a greater impact on cardiometabolic health and possibly MetS prevalence among women only. Prior work has also shown differences in how men and women approach and utilize support from family systems and that the association between social support and CVD outcomes varies by sex [45–47], where women often are at greater risk when operating in disrupted social systems. It is possible that in our sample, operating within a less conflicted family system may have favorably impacted health behaviors among women but not among men.…”