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Table 3.

Association of higher perceived stress and telomere length: stratified analyses

Stratification factornPerceived stress
Difference in telomere length
% moderate, high, or very high stress levelβ*95% CI lower, upper
Urinary hormone levels     
    Epinephrine     
        Low 328 59 210 −23, 442 
        High 315 54 −484 −709, −259 
    Norepinephrine     
        Low 322 55 −27 −263, 208 
        High 322 58 −246 −475, −17 
    Dopamine     
        Low 327 57 12 −230, 254 
        High 317 56 −257 −478, −37 
    Cortisol     
        Low 319 57 −206 −441, 29 
        High 320 56 −101 −331, 129 
Major life events/stress     
    Recent major losses†     
        0 515 55 −73 −253, 106 
        1 or more 131 61 −420 −814, −27 
    Major life losses‡     
        0 287 60 −143 −390, 105 
        1 280 52 −93 −349, 163 
        2 or more 80 60 −146 −600, 308 
    Familial breast cancer risk§     
        1 282 52 −2 −250, 247 
        2 263 61 −368 −635, −102 
        3 or more 102 57 101 −298, 501 
Demographics and health     
    Age (y)     
        Under age 55 358 59 −8 −238, 222 
        55 and older 289 53 −289 −519, −59 
    Current marital partnership     
        Yes 484 57 −69 −260, 123 
        No 163 53 −290 −594, 15 
    Poor health, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes     
        No 519 55 −97 −273, 80 
        Yes 128 62 −183 −594, 227 
    Ever diagnosed with clinical depression     
        No 508 51 −87 −271, 96 
        Yes 139 76 −216 −611, 187 
Stratification factornPerceived stress
Difference in telomere length
% moderate, high, or very high stress levelβ*95% CI lower, upper
Urinary hormone levels     
    Epinephrine     
        Low 328 59 210 −23, 442 
        High 315 54 −484 −709, −259 
    Norepinephrine     
        Low 322 55 −27 −263, 208 
        High 322 58 −246 −475, −17 
    Dopamine     
        Low 327 57 12 −230, 254 
        High 317 56 −257 −478, −37 
    Cortisol     
        Low 319 57 −206 −441, 29 
        High 320 56 −101 −331, 129 
Major life events/stress     
    Recent major losses†     
        0 515 55 −73 −253, 106 
        1 or more 131 61 −420 −814, −27 
    Major life losses‡     
        0 287 60 −143 −390, 105 
        1 280 52 −93 −349, 163 
        2 or more 80 60 −146 −600, 308 
    Familial breast cancer risk§     
        1 282 52 −2 −250, 247 
        2 263 61 −368 −635, −102 
        3 or more 102 57 101 −298, 501 
Demographics and health     
    Age (y)     
        Under age 55 358 59 −8 −238, 222 
        55 and older 289 53 −289 −519, −59 
    Current marital partnership     
        Yes 484 57 −69 −260, 123 
        No 163 53 −290 −594, 15 
    Poor health, cardiovascular disease, or diabetes     
        No 519 55 −97 −273, 80 
        Yes 128 62 −183 −594, 227 
    Ever diagnosed with clinical depression     
        No 508 51 −87 −271, 96 
        Yes 139 76 −216 −611, 187 
*

Linear regression models with telomere length as outcome for being at or above high-average levels of perceived stress; estimated β coefficient and 95% CIs corresponding to difference in bp average telomere length, adjusting for age and BMI (continuous), non-White race, and smoking history. Stratified using median cut-points for creatinine-adjusted urinary hormones.

†

Recent major losses, including death of parent, sister, or spouse, divorce, or separation in past 24 mo.

‡

Life losses (premature death of first degree relative), sum of occurrences across categories, including death of a child (any age), death of parent or sibling before age 65 y.

§

Summation of primary relatives diagnosed with breast cancer + occurrences of diagnoses before age 45 in a mother, sister, or daughter.

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