RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Psychosocial stress and bone loss among postmenopausal women: results from the Women’s Health Initiative
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 888
OP 892
DO 10.1136/jech-2019-212516
VO 73
IS 9
A1 Shawna L Follis
A1 Jennifer Bea
A1 Yann Klimentidis
A1 Chengcheng Hu
A1 C J Crandall
A1 David O Garcia
A1 Aladdin H Shadyab
A1 Rami Nassir
A1 Zhao Chen
YR 2019
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/73/9/888.abstract
AB Background Bone loss is a major public health concern with large proportions of older women experiencing osteoporotic fractures. Previous research has established a relationship between psychosocial stressors and fractures. However, few studies have investigated bone loss as an intermediary in this relationship. This study investigates whether social stress is associated with bone loss during a 6-year period in postmenopausal women.Methods Data from 11 020 postmenopausal women from the USA was used to examine self-reported psychosocial stress in relation to change in bone mineral density (BMD) measured at the femoral neck, lumbar spine and total hip. Linear regression models were used to examine associations between social measures of psychosocial stress (social strain, social functioning and social support) and per cent change in BMD over 6 years.Results High social stress was associated with decreased BMD over 6 years. After adjustment for confounders, each point higher in social strain was associated with 0.082% greater loss of femoral neck BMD, 0.108% greater loss of total hip BMD and 0.069% greater loss of lumbar spine BMD (p<0.05). Low social functioning and low social support were associated with greater decreases in femoral neck BMD, and low social functioning was associated with greater decreases in total hip BMD.Conclusion The findings provide evidence for an association between high social stress and greater bone loss over 6 years of follow-up. In agreement with the prior literature, the findings for social strain and social functioning suggest that poor quality of social relationships may be associated with bone loss in postmenopausal women.