Ecological and sociodemographic effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult Samoans

Abstract

Background Ecological and sociodemographic correlates of stress may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in modernizing Samoans. Aim The effects of peri-urban vs rural residence, education, occupation, caffeine intake and cigarette consumption on urinary catecholamine excretion were studied in Samoan adults. Subjects and methods Five hundred and seven participants, aged 29–69 years, were randomly selected from nine villages throughout Samoa. Sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were assessed by questionnaire. Epinephrine and norepinephrine excretion rates were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in overnight urine samples. Age (≤40 vs >40 years) and gender-specific regression models were estimated to detect associations with BMI-adjusted catecholamine excretion. Results Norepinephrine was significantly higher in peri-urban young men and older women. Epinephrine was significantly higher in peri-urban older men. Adjustment for caffeine attenuated the relationship between residence and norepinephrine in young women. Conclusion General residential exposure to modernization in urban villages is a significant correlate of increased overnight catecholamine excretion rates and is consistent with past studies. Caffeine consumption in younger women plays a complex role in stress-related catecholamine excretion. Further studies of individual level attitudinal and behavioural factors in Samoans are needed to understand psychosocial stress, physiologic arousal and health.

Behavioral and perceived stressor effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult samoans

“…These findings provide detail on the association of individual-level perceptions and behaviors with catecholamine excretion, and go beyond our previously observed ecological, residence-based stressor effects (Bergey et al, 2011). We found consistent evidence in young women 40 years of age that biomarkers of stress were associated with self-reports of responsibilities, contributions and burdens of the late 20th century Samoan ways of life.…”

“…The significant effects of the attitudinal and behavioral findings for older men did not attenuate a previously observed effect of a rural vs. peri-urban residential contrast on EPI excretion (Bergey et al, 2011). Older men from peri-urban Upolu had significantly higher EPI than their rural Savai'i counterparts, after adjusting for the attitudinal and behavioral variables in the final model.…”

“…A previously observed significant, positive effect of caffeine in this cohort (Bergey et al, 2010) was attenuated when the fa'alavelave and matai measures were added to the model. A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i.…”

“…Further analysis, using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, could provide a deeper understanding of individual perceptions and behaviors related to traditional socioeconomic obligations and psychosocial stress arousal in Samoa. Such analysis may also elucidate biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk underlying previously observed ecological differences in psychosocial arousal (Bergey et al, 2010) that persisted after adjustment for the individual-level differences observed in the present analysis. Finally, economic development, migration, emigrant remittances to aiga and matai , and changing opportunities for social, political, and economic advancement within villages continue to occur in Samoa and American Samoa and among Samoan communities outside of the archipelago (Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009; McGarvey and Seiden, 2010).…”

“…A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i. Further analysis of individual level correlates of psychosocial stressors are necessary to elucidate other biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk that may underlie the residential differences in adjusted NE in this cohort.…”

Behavioral and perceived stressor effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult samoans

“…These findings provide detail on the association of individual-level perceptions and behaviors with catecholamine excretion, and go beyond our previously observed ecological, residence-based stressor effects (Bergey et al, 2011). We found consistent evidence in young women 40 years of age that biomarkers of stress were associated with self-reports of responsibilities, contributions and burdens of the late 20th century Samoan ways of life.…”

“…The significant effects of the attitudinal and behavioral findings for older men did not attenuate a previously observed effect of a rural vs. peri-urban residential contrast on EPI excretion (Bergey et al, 2011). Older men from peri-urban Upolu had significantly higher EPI than their rural Savai'i counterparts, after adjusting for the attitudinal and behavioral variables in the final model.…”

“…A previously observed significant, positive effect of caffeine in this cohort (Bergey et al, 2010) was attenuated when the fa'alavelave and matai measures were added to the model. A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i.…”

“…Further analysis, using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, could provide a deeper understanding of individual perceptions and behaviors related to traditional socioeconomic obligations and psychosocial stress arousal in Samoa. Such analysis may also elucidate biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk underlying previously observed ecological differences in psychosocial arousal (Bergey et al, 2010) that persisted after adjustment for the individual-level differences observed in the present analysis. Finally, economic development, migration, emigrant remittances to aiga and matai , and changing opportunities for social, political, and economic advancement within villages continue to occur in Samoa and American Samoa and among Samoan communities outside of the archipelago (Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009; McGarvey and Seiden, 2010).…”

“…A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i. Further analysis of individual level correlates of psychosocial stressors are necessary to elucidate other biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk that may underlie the residential differences in adjusted NE in this cohort.…”

Behavioral and perceived stressor effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult samoans

“…These findings provide detail on the association of individual-level perceptions and behaviors with catecholamine excretion, and go beyond our previously observed ecological, residence-based stressor effects (Bergey et al, 2011). We found consistent evidence in young women 40 years of age that biomarkers of stress were associated with self-reports of responsibilities, contributions and burdens of the late 20th century Samoan ways of life.…”

“…The significant effects of the attitudinal and behavioral findings for older men did not attenuate a previously observed effect of a rural vs. peri-urban residential contrast on EPI excretion (Bergey et al, 2011). Older men from peri-urban Upolu had significantly higher EPI than their rural Savai'i counterparts, after adjusting for the attitudinal and behavioral variables in the final model.…”

“…A previously observed significant, positive effect of caffeine in this cohort (Bergey et al, 2010) was attenuated when the fa'alavelave and matai measures were added to the model. A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i.…”

“…Further analysis, using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, could provide a deeper understanding of individual perceptions and behaviors related to traditional socioeconomic obligations and psychosocial stress arousal in Samoa. Such analysis may also elucidate biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk underlying previously observed ecological differences in psychosocial arousal (Bergey et al, 2010) that persisted after adjustment for the individual-level differences observed in the present analysis. Finally, economic development, migration, emigrant remittances to aiga and matai , and changing opportunities for social, political, and economic advancement within villages continue to occur in Samoa and American Samoa and among Samoan communities outside of the archipelago (Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009; McGarvey and Seiden, 2010).…”

“…A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i. Further analysis of individual level correlates of psychosocial stressors are necessary to elucidate other biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk that may underlie the residential differences in adjusted NE in this cohort.…”

Behavioral and perceived stressor effects on urinary catecholamine excretion in adult samoans

“…These findings provide detail on the association of individual-level perceptions and behaviors with catecholamine excretion, and go beyond our previously observed ecological, residence-based stressor effects (Bergey et al, 2011). We found consistent evidence in young women 40 years of age that biomarkers of stress were associated with self-reports of responsibilities, contributions and burdens of the late 20th century Samoan ways of life.…”

“…The significant effects of the attitudinal and behavioral findings for older men did not attenuate a previously observed effect of a rural vs. peri-urban residential contrast on EPI excretion (Bergey et al, 2011). Older men from peri-urban Upolu had significantly higher EPI than their rural Savai'i counterparts, after adjusting for the attitudinal and behavioral variables in the final model.…”

“…A previously observed significant, positive effect of caffeine in this cohort (Bergey et al, 2010) was attenuated when the fa'alavelave and matai measures were added to the model. A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i.…”

“…Further analysis, using qualitative methods such as semi-structured interviews, could provide a deeper understanding of individual perceptions and behaviors related to traditional socioeconomic obligations and psychosocial stress arousal in Samoa. Such analysis may also elucidate biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk underlying previously observed ecological differences in psychosocial arousal (Bergey et al, 2010) that persisted after adjustment for the individual-level differences observed in the present analysis. Finally, economic development, migration, emigrant remittances to aiga and matai , and changing opportunities for social, political, and economic advancement within villages continue to occur in Samoa and American Samoa and among Samoan communities outside of the archipelago (Macpherson and Macpherson, 2009; McGarvey and Seiden, 2010).…”

“…A previously observed significant effect of peri-urban versus rural residence (Bergey et al, 2010), remained significant; young women from peri-urban villages on Upolu had higher adjusted NE excretion than young women from rural villages on Savai'i. Further analysis of individual level correlates of psychosocial stressors are necessary to elucidate other biopsychosocial aspects of individual exposure to socio-economic change and cardiovascular disease risk that may underlie the residential differences in adjusted NE in this cohort.…”