Social Factors Contributing to the Development of Allostatic Load in Older Adults: A Correlational- Predictive Study

Abstract

Objetivo: determinar si factores sociales como las condiciones de vivienda, la satisfacción con la casa, las características del vecindario, el apoyo social, las relaciones familiares y la asistencia a la iglesia contribuyen al desarrollo de la carga alostática en los adultos mayores. Materiales y método: se realizó un estudio correlacional y predictivo de corte transversal. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron una hoja de datos sociodemográficos, el instrumento de relaciones familiares percibidas, el cuestionario de Apoyo Social y la Escala de Movilidad Activa en el Entorno Comunitario, versión corta. Los biomarcadores de carga alostática utilizados fueron: presión arterial sistólica y diastólica, índice de masa corporal, circunferencia de la cintura, relación cintura-cadera, colesterol total, lipoproteína de alta densidad, hemoglobina glicosilada, fibrinógeno y proteína C-Reactiva. La muestra se calculó para para el contraste de la hipótesis de no relación (R2 = 0), en un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple con 11 covariables, con un nivel de significancia del .05 y una potencia del 90 % (.90), cuando el coeficinete de determinación poblacional (R2) es .15, tamaño de muestra que resultó en 131 adultos mayores. El análisis estadístico incluyó medidas descriptivas y modelos lineales generalizados. Resultados: los participantes tenían un riesgo medio o alto de carga alostática. El análisis del modelo de regresión lineal multivariante mostró que las mejores condiciones de vivienda, la satisfacción con la propia casa, la presencia de calles sin salida y la asistencia a la iglesia reducen la carga alostática y que el tráfico peligroso aumenta la carga alostática. Conclusiones: existen varios factores sociales que contribuyen al desarrollo de la carga alostática en adultos mayores. Es necesario crear estrategias de cuidado de enfermería hacia el entorno social para disminuir la carga alostática en el adulto mayor.

Allostatic Load and Its Impact on Health: A Systematic Review

“…A negative association between allostatic load bio markers and religious attendance has been reported [123]. Weekly religious service attendance was associated with lower allostatic load in older adults [124][125][126]. A sig nificant inverse association between church attendance and allcause mortality risk, partially explained by allo static load, was also found [127].…”

“…Altogether, individual psycho logical wellbeing and coping styles may modulate the as sociation between sociodemographic factors and allostat ic load [87], and higher psychosocial resources were linked to lower allostatic load [40,194]. Environmental factors, such as work and living conditions, play an important role in determining allostatic load [125,149,162], but their modification is often not taken into account. Work condi tions are modifiable factors to be targeted by specific inter ventions [313].…”

“…Conversely, living in an unhealthy environment may have deleterious effects on health. Lead exposure [168,169], perception of pollution [170], dan gerous traffic [125], household crowding [171], and envi ronmental riskscapes [172] may contribute to allostatic load increased levels. Furthermore, poor indoor environ mental quality could raise allostatic load [173], whereas better housing conditions and satisfaction with own house appeared to reduce allostatic load [125].…”

Allostatic Load and Children’s Disease

“…(17,18) Regarding the biomarkers that were monitored, the conclusions for children are detailed as follows: Children with high allostatic load have higher levels of triglycerides, PCR and calprotectin when compared to subjects with low allostatic load. (3,20) The interpretation of these biomarkers should be made with precaution because many of them are influenced by total body adiposity and may not be fully associated with allostatic load. (2)…”

“…In Europe, they were mainly related to gender, ethnicity, neighbourhood's socioeconomic status and social and occupational hierarchy. (3) There are few studies on this subject in children and they are focused on mistreatment, bullying, maternal deprivation, and neighbourhood's socioeconomic status. Only some of them refer to the allostatic load and chronic disease that emerge in childhood.…”