Metabolic Syndrome and Psychosocial Factors

TitleMetabolic Syndrome and Psychosocial Factors
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsTweedy, MP
Date Published2009
UniversityUniversity of North Texas
CityUnited States
KeywordsHealth Conditions and Status
Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of risk factors, including abdominal obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high fasting glucose, that commonly cluster together and can result in cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the components that comprise the syndrome vary by age and by racial/ethnic group. In addition, previous research has indicated that the risk factors contributing to metabolic syndrome may be exacerbated by exposure to perceived stress. This study utilized data from the 2002, 2004, and 2006 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data sets. It was hypothesized that depression and anxiety (conceptualized as stress in this study) increase the risk of presenting with metabolic syndrome while social support decreases the risk of metabolic syndrome. While results of cross-sectional analysis do not indicate a significant relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome ( t = -.84, ns), longitudinal analysis does indicate a significant relationship between depression and metabolic syndrome over time ( t = -5.20, p <.001). However, anxiety is not significantly related to metabolic syndrome when the relationship is examined through cross-sectional analysis ( t = -1.51, ns) and longitudinal analysis (? 2 = 13.83, ns). Similarly, social support is not significantly related to metabolic syndrome when examined in cross-sectional (? 2 = .63, ns) and longitudinal ( t = 1.53, ns) analysis. Although level of stress is not significantly related to metabolic syndrome as a whole, there is a significant relationship between stress and both triglyceride level ( t = -2.94, p = .003) and blood glucose level ( t = -3.26, p = .001).

Endnote Keywords

Depression

Endnote ID

21650

Short TitleMetabolic Syndrome and Psychosocial Factors
Citation Key6131