Affect Regulation and Mortality Risk: The Role of Allostatic Load

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Behavioral Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Distinct affect regulation strategies are linked to mortality risk, but underlying biological mechanisms are not well understood.
• Allostatic load, a measure of cumulative physiological wear and tear, is a potential mediator or moderator of these associations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between various affect regulation strategies and mortality risk.
• To examine the role of allostatic load as a confounder, mediator, or moderator in the affect regulation-mortality relationship.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal study of 1941 US adults (Midlife in the United States study, 2004-2006).
• Assessed 9 affect regulation strategies and affect regulation variability using validated scales and an SD-based algorithm.
• Measured 24 allostatic load biomarkers and used Cox regressions to analyze all-cause mortality risk until 2022.

Main Results:

• Greater affect regulation variability, compared to lower variability, significantly predicted higher mortality risk (HR=1.54).
• Allostatic load did not mediate or confound the association between affect regulation and mortality.
• Affect regulation variability and denial were linked to higher mortality risk only among adults with lower allostatic load, suggesting a moderating effect.

Conclusions:

• Allostatic load may act as a moderator, rather than a confounder or mediator, in the relationship between certain affect regulation dimensions and mortality.
• Future research should explore the moderating role of allostatic load in diverse populations.