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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Another Study Supports What We Already Suspected: Stress In Not Good For You

Thursday October 25, 2007

I have a suggestion for everyone who hears of or reads about the latest health-related study, which media viewers/listeners often do on a daily basis: Don't expect groundbreaking insights. Most study findings are not at odds with what is already known and when they are, be doubly skeptical. Even if you think the results represent good news (for example, "New study findings give strong evidence that voting Republican is linked to mental illness and deviancy"), curb your enthusiasm. Withhold judgment. Don't believe it -- at least not initially. Wait for further studies to validate new findings. No matter if the study results are consistent with your fervent preferences, resist leaping on the bandwagon. While awaiting further studies, try to learn more about the methodology of the study that interests you. Be sure to check for bias, deliberate or unintentional.

Bias is sometimes suspected in research funded by certain religious foundations. If the "God Delivers Miracles Foundation" sponsors a study of amazing healings at tent revivals, be reluctant to embrace the claims. A case in point: All research funded by the Templeton Foundation. This religious institution invests millions for scientific investigations on the efficacy of prayer. The thinking of the Templeton Foundation leaders must be that if enough studies are done on prayer, God will eventually come around and answer a few. If that ever happens (and breathing should not be placed on hold while awaiting same), Templeton researchers will at last be rewarded for their persistence in the face of repeated failure. At such time, all those infidels who persist in asking irreverent questions about Templeton prayer studies will finally recognize the error of their skeptical ways.

It is not likely that such a study will produce data that will hold up to scrutiny by independent third parties. This applies not only to Templeton-funded studies, but as well to any research that gives results dramatically at odds with what is known. Occasionally, such new findings on highly specific matters hold up, but more often they do not. Delay of judgment is always the best policy.

I thought along these lines the other day when I read about a study on workplace stress and its effects on workers who had suffered previous heart attacks. The article, "Job Strain Can Be Risk Factor For Subsequent Heart Attacks" (WSJ, October 10, 2007; Page D4.), described a Canadian study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers found that distress at work triggers adrenaline and other "fight or flight" hormones, adding the same degree of risk to heart sufferers as smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and poor diet. All these factors were observed to be equally injurious to worker hearts, if the employees had prior cardiac incidents. The Canadian investigators recommended multiple strategies for lowering risks, including modifying psychological aspects of the work environment.

One recommendation was to convince employers to avoid asking workers to do more and more work with less time and fewer resources. Another was to provide employees with more control and authority to make decisions necessary to get the work done. Well, it seems to me that everyone would have less stress and perhaps fewer heart problems if these suggestions were followed.

Such problems, especially among lower wage employees with limited education and few options, have been previously identified as risk factors (, the Whitehall investigations of British civil-service workers).

This latest study seems interesting, it is not exactly groundbreaking. Stress is implicated in nearly everything negative and threatening to good health at the workplace and beyond. Also, this study did not shed new light on which personality types suffer nor were many other possible variables examined. Basically, the study seems of mild interest even if the methodology holds up to careful scrutiny and the results are validated by additional studies.

The best part of the study might have been the suggestion made by the lead investigator that employers try to create a collaborative rather than a competitive work environment. Also, I liked the advice about encouraging employers to promote worksite wellness that encourages "regular exercise, meditation and supportive friends and family." If it takes a study of the obvious to give credence to such commonsensical counsel, well, that might well justify the costs of such investigations.

For those with modest expectations for all studies, this research does seem mildly interesting. For those looking for breakthroughs, however, this and just about any other study will be a big disappointment. To get the most of any research, set modest expectations and be skeptical of findings, even if you tend to favor the outcomes.

All the best. Always look on the bright side of life.

Domain: mental
Subdomain: stress management

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