Association of education and receiving social transfers with allostatic load in the Swiss population-based CoLaus study

Abstract

Low education and receiving social transfers independently and cumulatively predict high allostatic load and dysregulation of several homeostatic systems in a Swiss population-based study. Participants with low SES are at higher risk of oxidative stress, which may justify its inclusion as a separate component of allostatic load.

Sociodemographic, behavioral and genetic determinants of allostatic load in a Swiss population-based study

“…However, we must point out that the majority of studies in this field report a negative association between occupational position and AL for both sexes (Gustafsson et al, 2011). Participants with a low education experienced higher physiological dysregulation as measured by AL, in line with previous research (Howard and Sparks, 2015;Nicod et al, 2014;Seeman et al, 2004) including a study performed in a Swiss population (Nicod et al, 2014). This may be related to several factors such as health-related knowledge on detrimental behaviors (Kenkel, 1991;Nocon et al, 2007), use of health preventive services such as screening (Adler et al, 1993), availability of psychosocial resources such as social support, and better ability to cope with everyday hassles and stressful situations in individuals with high vs. low education (Adler and Snibbe, 2003;Seeman, 1996).…”

“…We analyzed the constituting risk factors of AL in groups corresponding to six physiological systems: cardiovascular, metabolism, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA), lipidic axis, inflammation and oxidative stress (Gallo et al, 2011;Nicod et al, 2014;Seeman et al, 2010). Compared to the markers usually included in the assessment of AL, we omitted autonomic nervous system parameters (i.e.…”

“…adrenaline, noradrenaline) as they were not available in SKIPOGH. Moreover, we decided to include an oxidative stress axis as chronic oxidative stress has also been linked to generalized physiological dysregulation (Devaki et al, 2013;Nicod et al, 2014). Further, we separated the lipids from the metabolism axes contrary to previous studies.…”

“…Introduced in the early nineties by McEwen and Stellar (1993), AL is measured through a single index, resulting from a combination of biological markers reflecting the states of several axes including cardiovascular, metabolic, dyslipidemic, neuroendocrine, hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and inflammatory (Nicod et al, 2014;Seeman et al, 2010). High AL has been related to several adverse health outcomes, including physical and cognitive functioning, symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, risk of cardiovascular events (Crimmins et al, 2003;Juster et al, 2010;Seeman et al, 2001), and all-cause mortality (Seeman et al, 2004).…”

“…In this context, many studies have found a strong association between low SES, as reflected by low education, adverse financial conditions or receiving social transfers, and high AL Nicod et al, 2014). The role of health behaviors in relation to chronic stress and health has also been investigated in previous research, which showed that individuals confronted to stressful daily life (i.e.…”