The impact of prior exposure to stressful life events and current perceived stress on heart rate variability in older adults: Results from the Irish longitudinal study on ageing.

Abstract

Exposure to cumulative stressful life events (LEs) has been shown to have adverse effects on physical and mental well-being. Evidence also suggests that high perceived stress (PS) is associated with poorer health. However, the relationship between these two indices of stress in predicting physiological function in older adults, in particular, has been under explored. The aim of this study was to determine how prior stress exposure and current stress appraisal relate to heart rate variability (HRV) in older adults. Supine HRV was assessed via electrocardiography in 2757 adults aged 50 years and older from wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Indi- viduals were asked, via self-completion questionnaire, to indicate whether they had been previously exposed to any of 9 possible LEs. Current PS was assessed by the 4-item Perceived Stress Scale. Mul- tiple linear regression analyses were carried out with adjustment for confounders and survey weighted to account for differential non-response. Relative to no events, exposure to ≥3 LEs was inde- pendently associated with lower HF-HRV (b = −.47, p < .001). Higher PS was also independently associated with lower HF-HRV (b = −.03, p < .05). However, a significant interaction was observed whereby individuals with ≥3 LEs and high PS had higher HF-HRV (b = .08, p < .01). In this population study of older adults, higher exposure to LEs and high current PS were independently associated with lower HRV. However, individuals with greater LE exposure coupled with high current PS had higher HRV. This work suggests avenues for further investigation regarding determinants of stress vulnerability and resilience.