title: Does exposure to stressors predict changes in physiological dysregulation?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The allostatic load framework implies that cumulative exposure to stressors results in multi-system physiological dysregulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of stress burden on subsequent changes (2000-2006) in physiological dysregulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from a population-based cohort study in Taiwan (n = 521, aged 54+ in 2000, re-examined in 2006). Measures of stressful events and chronic strain were based on questions asked in 1996, 1999, and 2000. A measure of trauma was based on exposure to the 1999 earthquake. Dysregulation was based on 17 biomarkers (e.g., metabolic, inflammatory, neuroendocrine).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were some small effects among men: chronic strain was associated with subsequent increases in dysregulation (standardized β = 0.08, 95 % CI = 0.01 to 0.20), particularly inflammation; life events were also associated with increased inflammation (β = 0.10, CI = 0.01 to 0.26). There were no significant effects in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found weak evidence that stress burden is associated with changes in dysregulation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Population and Health, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. dag77@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Dana A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Glei
authors.forename: Noreen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Chih-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weinstein
mesh_terms: D052636:Allostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013624:Taiwan