Low subjective social status in the police is linked to health-relevant changes in diurnal salivary alpha-amylase activity in Swiss police officers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess basal autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity as a pathway linking subjective social status to health in a high-demand work environment. It was hypothesized that officers with a lower status experienced more chronic stress (higher basal ANS activity) and that chronic stress was related to more health problems. Fifty-six male and female Swiss police officers self-reported on subjective social status (country, community, friends, police) and their health (depression, post-traumatic stress, physical symptoms) and collected 12 saliva samples over two days for basal α-amylase activation (sAA) assessment. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that subjective social status in the police and physical symptoms explained a significant part of the variance in diurnal sAA activity patterns. The current findings support the idea that more narrowly defined subjective social status may be more closely linked to biological stress mechanisms. Additionally, sAA activity was specifically related to physical, but not mental health problems. These results suggest that subjective social status referencing one's work environment may be a promising early indicator of health-relevant changes in stress-related physiological systems.

Subjective social status and health: Multidisciplinary explanations and methodological challenges

“…Given that reduced β-adrenoceptor function increases cardiovascular risk, this mechanism could partially mediate the effects of SSS on cardiovascular health (Euteneuer et al, 2012). Habersaat et al (2018) investigated the α-amylase concentration in saliva (sAA) – also a marker of the activity of the autonomic nervous system – among police officers in Switzerland. They found that police officers with low SSS within the police hierarchy begin and end their day with higher sAA levels than their high-SSS counterparts.…”

Socioeconomic position over the life-course and subjective social status in relation to nutritional status and mental health among Guatemalan adults

“…SSS was associated with both objective SEP measures and with health outcomes ( Cardel et al, 2020 ; Cundiff et al, 2013 ; Habersaat et al, 2018 ; Hoebel & Lampert, 2020 ; Smith et al, 2019 ). However, associations of SSS with health is attenuated in most cases after adjusting for objective SEP measures such as household wealth ( Demakakos et al, 2018 ; Ferreira et al, 2018 ; Hoebel & Lampert, 2020 ; Nobles et al, 2013 ; Prag, 2020 ; Scott et al, 2014 ; Shaked et al, 2016 ; Singh-Manoux et al, 2005b ).…”

Subjective social status and stress responsivity in late adolescence

“…In the context of stress reactivity, people temporarily placed in positions of less social power show greater increases in negative affect following stress (Cundiff, Smith, Baron, & Uchino, 2016;Mendelson, Thurston, & Kubzansky, 2008). Young adults with lower SSS show blunted HPA axis responses to stress, and adults of lower SSS show lower resting heart rate even after controlling for socioeconomic status and lower salivary alpha-amylase activity throughout the day relative to adults with higher SSS (Adler et al, 2000;Gruenewald, Kemeny, & Aziz, 2006;Habersaat, Abdellaoui, Geiger, Urben, & Wolf, 2018;Hellhammer, Buchtal, Gutberlet, & Kirschbaum, 1997). These health indicators have been linked, in turn, with poorer health outcomes (e.g., Burke, Davis, Otte, & Mohr, 2005;Heim, Ehlert, & Hellhammer, 2000;Tang, Rashid, Godley, & Ghali, 2016;Thayer, Yamamoto, & Brosschot, 2010).…”