Associations of lifetime stressors and health behaviors with inflammation in young adults previously placed in youth residential care

Abstract

Background

Early life stressors (ELS) and stressful life events (SLEs) increase the risk for various physical health conditions, and health behaviors can modulate stress-associated risks. A key mechanism linking both lifetime stress and health behaviors with physical health outcomes is chronic low-grade inflammation. However, it is unclear how both stressor exposure and more proximal health behaviors are associated with inflammation in highly stress-exposed groups.

Objectives

Here, we investigated associations of lifetime stressors and health behaviors with peripheral inflammation in a highly stress exposed sample of young adults previously placed within youth residential care in Switzerland.

Method

We examined 126 young adults (M_Age = 26.3 years; 31 % female) who completed questionnaires to assess ELS, SLEs, and risky and protective health behaviors. Inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin [IL]-6, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-10, and IL-1ra) were measured in venous blood using high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (hsELISAs). Regressions estimated associations between ELS, SLEs, and health behaviors with each inflammatory marker.

Results

Our sample reported high levels of ELS and SLEs, as well as high levels of risky health behaviors. ELS and SLEs were mostly unassociated with young adult health behaviors, and both ELS and SLEs were not associated with inflammatory markers, adjusting for covariates. Regarding behavior, nicotine dependence was associated with higher pro-inflammatory markers and alcohol abuse marginally with a lower anti-inflammatory marker, while physical activity and better sleep quality were associated with lower pro-inflammatory markers, adjusting for covariates.

Conclusions

Among individuals with high levels of lifetime stress, cumulative ELS and SLEs were unassociated with inflammation, whereas risky behaviors were associated with higher, and protective behaviors with lower inflammatory markers. Interventions that reduce risky and promote protective health behaviors may lower inflammation and promote long-term health among individuals who have experienced high lifetime stressors exposure.