Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40967042›Full record

ArticleSocial science & medicine (1982)2025

Exploring the relationship between depressive symptoms, allostatic load, and income inequality in US adults aged 20 and older.

Khushbu Balsara, Ali Iftikhar, Emmanuel Animashaun, Shervin Assari, Hossein Zare

Abstract read
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Article in Social science & medicine (1982), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing 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

8 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

5 authors.

Khushbu BalsaraDepartment of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Ali IftikharDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Emmanuel AnimashaunDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Shervin AssariMarginalization-Related Diminished Returns (MDRs) Research Center, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Family Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Urban Public Health, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Hossein ZareDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; University of Maryland Global Campus, Health Services Management, Adelphi, Maryland, USA. Electronic address: hzare1@jhu.edu.

Funding

Why Place MattersU54MD000214 · NIMHD · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · PI GASKIN, DARRELL J. · 2017 to 2022
$8.8M
NIMHD NIH HHS U54 MD000214
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAllostatic load, reflecting the cumulative physiological impact of persistent stress on the body, has been recognized as a correlate of physical health outcomes. Despite well-documented associations between allostatic load and physical health, there is limited understanding of its connections to depressive symptoms. In particular, less is known about how socioeconomic status (SES) may moderate this relationship, despite theoretical rationale for such an interaction.

objectiveThis study utilizes large diverse nationally representative data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the association between allostatic load, depression, and poverty-to-income-ratio (PIR).

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional secondary analysis of NHANES data (2005-2018) for adults (defined as 20-year or older), exploring the link between allostatic load (AL), measured through various physiological markers, and depressive symptoms assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). The analysis included weighted binomial regressions to report Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) that controlled socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors.

resultsAfter controlling socioeconomic status and health-related behaviors, our findings demonstrate a significant association between high allostatic load and increased depressive symptoms (IRR: 1.22, CI = 1.13-1.32). This suggests that the physiological toll of chronic stress, as captured by allostatic load, is independently linked to elevated levels of depressive symptoms in a nationally representative sample.

conclusionThis study contributes to the understanding of the association between physiological stress, allostatic load and PIR on a national scale. It underscores the importance of recognizing allostatic load as a potential target for interventions aimed at preventing or mitigating depressive symptoms in the population.

Indexed as

AllostasisDepressionIncomeAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNutrition SurveysPovertySocial ClassSocioeconomic FactorsUnited StatesYoung AdultAdultAllostatic loadDepressionMental healthSocioeconomic factors

Identifiers

PMID40967042
PMCPMC12532076

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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.