Epigenetics Underlying Susceptibility and Resilience Relating to Daily Life Stress, Work Stress, and Socioeconomic Status

Abstract

Susceptibility and resilience to mental disorders result from a complex choreography of gene-environment interactions with epigenetics at the intersection of external psychological stressors and internal biological systems. Increasing awareness of the growing disease burden influenced by daily life stress ("daily hassles"), work-related stress, and low socioeconomic status (SES) has resulted in a novel interest into their underlying molecular signatures. This review offers a brief outline of psychiatric epigenetics and a comprehensive overview of recent findings exploring the relationship of various occupational stressors and DNA methylation in epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) and in candidate gene studies including the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4; 5-HTTLPR), melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and the protein family of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Conceptual and methodological challenges of epigenetic investigations with a special focus on gene-environment interactions are highlighted and discussed. The findings are integrated into a pathophysiological framework featuring epigenetic plasticity factors and work-related stress as a possible central detrimental component targetable by workplace interventions. Finally, the potential of dynamic epigenetic biomarkers of treatment response to pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy is expanded upon.

Combined Effects of Parenting in Childhood and Resilience on Work Stress in Nonclinical Adult Workers From the Community

“…In contrast to neuroticism, our unpublished data has shown that resilience may improve work stressors and subsequent stress responses. Previous studies reported a buffering effect of resilience on job stressors (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). However, to our knowledge, there has been no study to date that analyzed the association between parenting, resilience, and stress responses among general workers.…”

The interaction of 5‐HTT variation, recent stress, and resilience on current anxiety levels in adolescents and young adults from the general population

“…Despite the limitations, our findings from a general population sample of adolescents and young adults emphasize the focus on DH and recent chronic stress in a GxE framework, which is in line with other studies also pointing towards the influence of DH on anxiety (Barrett & Heubeck, 2000; D'Angelo & Wierzbicki, 2003). In further studies, additional factors like epigenetic processes modulating gene function and temporally dynamic processes susceptible to environmental influences, such as daily life stress respect to anxiety (for a review see Gottschalk et al, 2020; Schiele & Domschke, 2018) in particular SLC6A4 DNA methylation (Domschke et al, 2014; Duman & Canli, 2015; Kang et al, 2013; Roberts et al, 2014; Schiele, Kollert et al, 2019) have to be considered.…”

Resilience in the age of COVID-19

“…In the past decade, studies of resilience have expanded beyond merely describing individual characteristics to focusing on the ‘complex choreography’ (Gottschalk 2020 ) between individuals and their changing personal and environmental contexts. Recent data have shown that resilience is best understood as a continuum with the potential to change across a lifespan based on biological, developmental and cultural determinants as well as evidence-based interventions and deliberate practice on the part of the individual.…”

“…Certain environmental exposures throughout the lifespan, such as maternal care, social support and drug use, have been found to alter chromatin structure, thus affecting gene expression and an individual's susceptibility to trauma (Dudley 2011 ). In studies of adults, differences in methylation patterns of candidate genes, for example the serotonin transporter gene ( SLC6A4 ) promoter, have been linked with differential psychological outcomes related to stressors of various degrees (Gottschalk 2020 ), as well as differential limbic system activity in response to sad and fearful stimuli (Ismaylova 2018 ).…”