Psychological distress at baseline increases the risk of developing MetS during follow-up. This association remained robust after adjusting for age, gender, sociodemographic variables, baseline health behaviors, and C-reactive protein. These prospective findings are evidence of a significant association between psychological distress and the development of MetS.
Psychological distress measured by the GHQ-12 is associated with all-cause mortality risk during an 11-year observation time. This is mainly due to excess mortality among distressed men.
The objective of this study is to examine the association of psychological distress to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels and to examine the potential mediating role of health behaviours and pathophysiological factors. A total of 883 (393 men and 490 women) subjects, aged 36-56 years, participated in a population-based, cross-sectional study from 1997 to 1998 in Pieksämäki, Finland. Various clinical, biochemical and behavioural factors were measured, including hsCRP concentration. Psychological distress was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Subjects with low psychological distress (0 points in GHQ-12) were younger and more physically active, and their mean hsCRP level was lower when compared to subjects with medium (1-3 points) or high (4-12 points) psychological distress (1.26 ± 1.36, 1.53 ± 1.75 and 1.70 ± 1.68 mg/l, respectively, P for linearity = 0.003). Psychological distress was also associated with high relative cardiovascular risk (hsCRP >3.00 mg/l). After adjusting for gender, age, BMI, smoking, use of alcohol and leisure time physical activity, odds ratios for hsCRP >3.00 mg/l in the groups that had medium and high psychological distress were 1.32 (95% CI: 0.81-2.16) and 1.79 (95% CI: 1.05-3.04), respectively, compared with the low distress group (P for linearity 0.032). Psychological distress was associated with elevated hsCRP levels representing high relative cardiovascular risk. This association remained after adjusting for health behaviours and pathophysiological factors, supporting a direct, physiological link between psychological distress and inflammation. CRP could be an important pathophysiological mechanism through which psychological factors are associated with cardiovascular disease.
Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to delineate the impact of social context and savings attitudes on consumers’ self-reported long-term savings and discuss how these drivers can be influenced to increase an individual’s savings rate.
Design/methodology/approach
– An online survey was conducted among 993 German savers. A structural equation model quantified the influence of the social context and an individual’s attitudes on long-term savings behavior, as stated by consumers.
Findings
– Both social context constructs – subjective norms and relationship quality – exert a significant influence on the savings attitudes of perceived anxiety and perceived importance, which in turn significantly affect long-term savings. Furthermore, the results of a mediation analysis indicated that the social context only has an indirect effect on long-term savings.
Research limitations/implications
– The study was conducted in Germany only. Therefore, the results may not apply across cultures. In addition, the salient belief structures, access channels used, and savings product categories were not part of this study.
Practical implications
– The results showed that financial institutions can influence an individual’s attitudes toward long-term savings by providing a satisfying and trusted relationship. The positive effect on savings attitudes will translate to an increased long-term savings rate. According to the analysis, financial service providers can only have an indirect effect on long-term savings behavior.
Originality/value
– This paper delineates the impact of the social environment on long-term savings. This relationship has not been investigated in previous research. In addition, the influence of the social context within the attitudes-behavior framework for long-term savings is expounded.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.