Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40926281›Full record

ArticleClinical epigenetics2025

Work-related stress and burnout: Is epigenetic aging the missing link?

Julian Eder, Friederike Sophie David, Sabrina Illius, Nicole Rothe, Magdalena Katharina Wekenborg, Andreas Walther, Marlene Penz, Juulia Jylhävä, Robert Miller, Clemens Kirschbaum and 1 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical epigenetics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Transcriptional regulation in cardiovascular aging.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Julian EderChair of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany. julian.eder@tu-dresden.de.
Friederike Sophie DavidInstitute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Sabrina IlliusDepartment of Psychology, Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Nicole RotheChair of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Magdalena Katharina WekenborgElse Kroener Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Andreas WaltherPsychotherapy and Psychotherapy Research, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Marlene PenzInstitute of Psychology, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria.
Juulia JylhäväFaculty of Medicine and Health Technology and Gerontology Research Center (GEREC), University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Robert MillerChair of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Clemens KirschbaumChair of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, TUD Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany.
Nina AlexanderDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany. nina.alexander@uni-marburg.de.

Funding

Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden through centralized research funds MK201711Faculty of Psychology, Technische Universität Dresden through centralized research funds MK202101German Research Foundation, Germany AL 1484/6-1German Research Foundation, Germany KI 537/43-1German Research Foundation, Germany MI 2075/5-1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWork-related stress is a well-established contributor to mental health decline, particularly in the context of burnout, a state of prolonged exhaustion. Epigenetic clocks, which estimate biological age based on DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns, have been proposed as potential biomarkers of chronic stress and its impact on biological aging and health. However, their role in mediating the relationship between work-related stress, physiological stress markers, and burnout remains unclear.

methodsHere, we analyzed DNAm data from 296 employed individuals (n

resultsAs expected, work-related stress at baseline significantly predicted burnout (β = .47, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (β = .32, p < .001) at follow-up. However, epigenetic aging did not mediate these relationships, neither cross-sectionally (indirect effects of epigenetic age acceleration [EAA]: ß

conclusionsConsequently, our results do not support the hypothesis that epigenetic aging serves as a biological mechanism linking work-related stress or biological stress markers to burnout symptoms. While work-related stress significantly predicts burnout and depressive symptoms, its association does not appear to be driven by epigenetic aging pathways in a low to moderately burdened population. These findings underscore the need for longer follow-up studies to explore alternative biological and psychosocial pathways that shape the long-term consequences of work-related stress on mental health.

Indexed as

AgingBurnout, ProfessionalEpigenesis, GeneticOccupational StressAdultAgedDNA MethylationFemaleHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultBurnoutDepressionDNA methylationEpigenetic clockGlucocorticoidsLongitudinalWork-related stress

Identifiers

PMID40926281
PMCPMC12418647

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.