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  • Stress, Lifestyle, and Quality of Life in Midlife and Older Australian Women: Results From the Stress and the Health of Women Study

    Author(s)
    Seib, Charrlotte
    Whiteside, Eliza
    Lee, Kathryn
    Humphreys, Janice
    Tran, Tiet Hanh Dao
    Chopin, Lisa
    Anderson, Debra
    Griffith University Author(s)
    Anderson, Debra J.
    Seib, Charrlotte
    Dao-Tran, Tiet-Hanh
    Year published
    2014
    Metadata
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    Abstract
    Background Chronic psychological stress may pose a serious threat to health, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study examines the impact of stress on modifiable lifestyle factors, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and chronic illness in older Australian women. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from a random sample of 181 older adults aged 60 to 70 years from rural and urban areas of South-East Queensland, Australia. We used structural equation modelling to examine associations between stress, modifiable lifestyle factors, HRQOL, and chronic illness. Findings Parameter ...
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    Background Chronic psychological stress may pose a serious threat to health, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. This study examines the impact of stress on modifiable lifestyle factors, depressive symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and chronic illness in older Australian women. Methods Cross-sectional data were collected from a random sample of 181 older adults aged 60 to 70 years from rural and urban areas of South-East Queensland, Australia. We used structural equation modelling to examine associations between stress, modifiable lifestyle factors, HRQOL, and chronic illness. Findings Parameter estimates show that older women who reported life stressors where they felt helpless and feared for their life (high-magnitude stressors) also reported higher body mass index (p = .03) and more chronic illness (p < .01). In contrast, duration of exposure to life stressors was associated with higher depressive symptom scores (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; p = .02) and sleep disturbance scores (p < .01). Conclusions Our findings support the link between traumatic personal histories (exposure to high-magnitude stressors) and unhealthy lifestyle factors. Findings highlight the need for more research on how stress reduction, a healthy lifestyle, and positive coping strategies can be used to reduce the effects of high-magnitude stress on HRQOL and chronic illness.
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    Journal Title
    Women's Health Issues
    Volume
    24
    Issue
    1
    DOI
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2013.11.004
    Subject
    Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine not elsewhere classified
    Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
    Public Health and Health Services
    Publication URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10072/172280
    Collection
    • Journal articles

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