What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Healthy adolescents (n=69). Intervention: Daily interpersonal stress. Primary outcome: Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP).

February 7, 2009Psychosomatic Medicine171 citationsOpen Access

A Preliminary Study of Daily Interpersonal Stress and C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Adolescents From Latin American and European Backgrounds

AFAndrew J. FuligniUniversity of California, Los Angeles ETEva H. TelzerUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill JBJulienne E. BowerAPLA Health

Key Result

A greater frequency of daily interpersonal stress was associated with higher circulating levels of C-reactive protein among healthy adolescents.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=69)

Structured PICO

Is the experience of daily interpersonal stress associated with higher C-reactive protein levels in adolescents?

Population

69 healthy adolescents (mean age 17.78 years) from Latin American and European backgrounds, assessed for daily interpersonal stress over 14 days with CRP measured 8.6 months later.

Exposure

Experience of daily interpersonal stress (measured via daily diary checklists for 14 days)

Outcome

Circulating levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) measured an average of 8.63 months latersurrogate

Frequent daily interpersonal stress during adolescence is independently associated with elevated systemic inflammation (CRP), a marker of future cardiovascular risk.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the experience of daily interpersonal stress and levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory marker that is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk, during the teenage years. METHODS: A total of 69 adolescents (Mage= 17.78 years) completed daily diary checklists each night for 14 days in which they reported their experience of negative interpersonal interactions in the domains of family, peers, and school (e.g., conflict with family and friends, peer harassment, punishment by parents and teachers). Blood samples were obtained an average of 8.63 months later and assayed for circulating levels of CRP, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Measures of body mass index (BMI), socioeconomic status (SES), substance use, stressful life events, rejection sensitivity, and psychological distress were obtained. RESULTS: A greater frequency of daily interpersonal stress was associated with higher levels of CRP, even after controlling for BMI, SES, substance use, life events, rejection sensitivity, psychological distress, and frequency of daily interpersonal stress 2 years earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing a high frequency of interpersonal stressors that are typical of adolescent life is associated with higher levels of inflammation even among a normative, healthy sample of adolescents. Additional work should focus on other daily experiences during the adolescent period and their implications for elevated risk for later cardiovascular disease.

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