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Psychosocial factors at home and at work and four-year progression in intima media thickness

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Abstract

This study analyzed the relationship between psychosocial factors and progression in intima media thickness (IMT). In 1998 and 2002, 95 healthy participants underwent a clinical examination, including ultrasound of the arteria carotis communis (ACC). IMT progression in women was 0.033 mm/year (SD = 0.033) and in men 0.048 mm/ year (SD = 0.033). For cohabiting women as opposed to single women, the means for total IMT progression over the 4 years were, respectively, 0.137 (SE = 0.019) and 0.016 (SE = 0.048) mm. For women with above average as opposed to below average mean scores of effort, IMT progression were 0.149 (SE = 0.026) and 0.098 (SE = 0.024) mm, respectively. For men without children as opposed to men with children, mean scores for IMT progression were 0.231 (SE = 0.029) and 0.137 (SE = 0.028) mm, respectively. For men above average as opposed to those below average, scores of effort—reward imbalance IMT progression were 0.216 (SE = 0.030) and 0.155 (SE = 0.027) mm, respectively. Adjustment for confounders did not change the results significantly. We found that psychosocial factors were independent significant predictors of IMT progression. The associations were different between the genders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Medicine, HillerødSygehus, Helsevej 2-4, DK-3400, Hillerød

    Nanna Hurwitz Eller

  2. Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Hillerød Hospital, Hillerød

    Bo Netterstrøm

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  1. Nanna Hurwitz Eller
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  2. Bo Netterstrøm
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Correspondence to Nanna Hurwitz Eller.

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Eller, N.H., Netterstrøm, B. Psychosocial factors at home and at work and four-year progression in intima media thickness. Int. J. Behav. Med. 14, 21–29 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02999224

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