The Effects of Effort-Reward Imbalance on Inflammatory and Cardiovascular Responses to Mental Stress

Hamer, Mark; Williams, Emily; Vuonovirta, Raisa; Giacobazzi, Pierluigi; Gibson, E.L.; Steptoe, Andrew

doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000221227.02975.a0

Cited by 78 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A dysregulated secretion pattern was observed in a majority of these studies [32,[34][35][36]. In view of the importance of inflammation for the development of cardiovascular disease [37] a recent experimental study is of particular interest documenting higher concentrations of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) following exposure to a standardized mental stress test in participants scoring high on ERI measures, compared to participants with less or no work stress [38]. Finally, a summary index of stress-related biological markers of 'allostatic load' has been proposed by McEwen [31], indicating increased susceptibility to cardiovascular risk and disease.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effort-reward imbalance at work and cardiovascular diseases

Siegrist¹

2010

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Working conditions and employment arrangements make a significant contribution to the burden of cardiovascular disease, in particular in modern societies where mental and emotional demands and threats are becoming widespread. Occupational research has identified health-adverse features of modern work with the help of theoretical models. One such model, effort-reward imbalance, has been developed by this author and his group and has been widely tested in epidemiological and experimental studies. The model claims that stressful experience at work is elicited by a lack of reciprocity between efforts spent at work and rewards received in return, where rewards include money, promotion prospects, job security, and esteem. Results demonstrate elevated risks of coronary heart disease among employees exposed to effort-reward imbalance. Moreover, in ambulatory and experimental investigations, elevated heart rate and blood pressure and altered secretion of stress hormones were observed under these conditions. Although additional scientific evidence is needed, available findings call for practical measures towards improving quality of work, most importantly at the level of single companies and organisations. This conclusion is supported by first results from intervention studies that are guided by this theoretical approach. In view of the burden of cardiovascular disease attributable to unfavourable working conditions, such efforts are well justified and need to be extended in order to promote healthy work.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effort-reward imbalance at work and cardiovascular diseases

Siegrist¹

2010

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

129

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Cardiovascular readings continued during two 5 min standardised behavioural challenges in random order: a mirror tracing task and a socially evaluating speech task, which have been described previously (Hamer et al, 2006). In the speech task participants were given a hypothetical scenario in which they had to verbally defend themselves against the threat of unemployment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive emotional style and subjective, cardiovascular and cortisol responses to acute laboratory stress

Bostock

Hamer

Wawrzyniak

et al. 2011

Psychoneuroendocrinology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Acute mental stress has been shown to induce increases in circulating inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) (44) and these responses are more pronounced in participants with enduring chronic stress and depressive symptoms (45,46), although less pronounced in physically fit participants (47). Numerous studies have also demonstrated elevated concentrations of various inflammatory markers at rest in differing populations reporting depressive symptoms (48).…”

Section: Physical Activity Stress and Inflammationmentioning

confidence: 99%