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Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ensel, WM; Lin, N
Published in: Journal of aging and health
May 2000

This article examines the nature of distal stressors over a 15-year period and the extent to which they contribute to the explanation of additional variation in the life stress model.The study uses data collected from a community sample of adults to test specific hypotheses.Findings show that (a) distal stressors significantly increase variance explained in physical symptoms and maintain a direct effect on physical symptoms, (b) recent stressors mediate the effects of distal stressors on distress, and (c) social resources have direct and mediating effects on physical distress. Variations exist for different age groups or life stages.The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of life course, theoretical issues of temporality, types of stressors, and the role of social resources. The major conclusion is that there are multiple pathways to distress that differ for different stages in the life course.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Journal of aging and health

DOI

EISSN

1552-6887

ISSN

0898-2643

Publication Date

May 2000

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

139 / 168

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Support
  • Quality of Life
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Aging
  • Age Factors
  • 4206 Public health
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Ensel, W. M., & Lin, N. (2000). Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors. Journal of Aging and Health, 12(2), 139–168. https://doi.org/10.1177/089826430001200201
Ensel, W. M., and N. Lin. “Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors.Journal of Aging and Health 12, no. 2 (May 2000): 139–68. https://doi.org/10.1177/089826430001200201.
Ensel WM, Lin N. Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors. Journal of aging and health. 2000 May;12(2):139–68.
Ensel, W. M., and N. Lin. “Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors.Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 12, no. 2, May 2000, pp. 139–68. Epmc, doi:10.1177/089826430001200201.
Ensel WM, Lin N. Age, the stress process, and physical distress: the role of distal stressors. Journal of aging and health. 2000 May;12(2):139–168.
Journal cover image

Published In

Journal of aging and health

DOI

EISSN

1552-6887

ISSN

0898-2643

Publication Date

May 2000

Volume

12

Issue

2

Start / End Page

139 / 168

Related Subject Headings

  • Time Factors
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Social Support
  • Quality of Life
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Aging
  • Age Factors
  • 4206 Public health
  • 3202 Clinical sciences