Affective reactivity to daily stressors and long-term risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition.
BACKGROUND
Daily stressors, such as an argument with a spouse or an impending deadline, are associated with short-term changes in physical health symptoms. Whether these minor hassles have long-term physical health ramifications, however, is largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The current study examined whether exposure and reactivity to daily stressors is associated with long-term risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition.


METHODS
Participants (N = 435) from the National Study of Daily Experiences completed a series of daily diary interviews between 1995 and 1996 and again 10 years later.


RESULTS
Greater affective (i.e., emotional) reactivity to daily stressors at time 1 was associated with an increased risk of reporting a chronic physical health condition at time 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that how people respond to the daily stressors in their lives is predictive of future chronic health conditions.
Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, USA. jpiazza@fullerton.edu
Jennifer R
JR
Piazza
Susan T
ST
Charles
Martin J
MJ
Sliwinski
Jacqueline
J
Mogle
David M
DM
Almeida
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States