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Objective: Stress processes have long been of interest to researchers. A growing body of research explores the bidirectional relations between stressors, psychological and physical states. However, research on stress processes and their individual differences from a dynamic systems perspective is still lacking. This study examined dynamic feedback loops between stressors, psychological distress, and physical symptoms simultaneously using ecological momentary assessment.
Method: Three hundred and fifty-six participants completed five momentary assessments on stressors, psychological distress, and physical symptoms per day for 7 days in 2023. They also completed measures of their Big Five personality traits, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms.
Results: Dynamic structural equation models showed positive cross-lagged and feedback effects of stressors with psychological distress and physical symptoms, suggesting their self-perpetuating loops. Agreeableness and conscientiousness were protective factors, and neuroticism was a risk factor for the stressor-psychological loop. Individuals with depressive and/or anxiety symptoms were characterized by (a) greater inertia of psychological distress and physical symptoms, (b) stronger reverse effects of psychological distress and physical symptoms on subsequent stressors, (c) significant reciprocal effects between psychological distress and physical symptoms, and (d) stronger self-perpetuating loops of stressors with psychological distress and physical symptoms.
Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of analyzing feedback loops to understand bidirectional relations and individual differences in dynamic stress processes, providing insights for relevant personalized interventions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/hea0001414 | DOI Listing |
JAMA Netw Open
September 2025
Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics, and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Importance: Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) frequently experience psychological distress; however, access to psychological support remains limited.
Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of a digital psychological intervention for individuals with IRDs.
Design, Setting, And Participants: Participants aged 18 years or older were recruited across Germany between February 22 and June 4, 2024, if they had been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus and reported psychological distress and reduced quality of life.
J Neurol
September 2025
Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Derech Sheba 2, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Introduction: Psychological stress has been proposed as a trigger for disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS), but findings have been inconsistent. While prior research has focused largely on chronic stressors, little is known about how people with MS (pwMS) cope with acute, large-scale stress events such as war.
Objective: Examine the effects of wartime stress following the October 7, 2023 attack on disease activity in pwMS, and to assess whether emotional factors are associated with relapse risk during this period.
Int J Soc Psychiatry
September 2025
Department of Psychiatry, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background: Climate distress is a psychological reaction to adverse weather events and climate change. These events can increase people's vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD particularly in disaster-prone regions like India.
Aim: To explore the relationship between climate distress and psychological impact with a particular emphasis on women, elderly, and other at risk populations who owing to their health vulnerabilities, lack of resources or social roles that make them dependent on others, experience stress in the face of climate change.
Cureus
September 2025
Pediatrics, University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine, Reno, USA.
Goldenhar syndrome, a rare congenital condition, often presents with physical anomalies due to abnormal development of the first and second branchial arches, leading to facial and auricular malformations. However, the mental health challenges associated with this syndrome are often overlooked. This report describes the case of a 14-year-old Latino/Hispanic male child with Goldenhar syndrome and limited verbal communication, highlighting the complexities of managing both physical and psychological aspects of care after establishing follow-up with a pediatrician.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJAACAP Open
September 2025
University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Objective: Psychological distress (eg, anxiety and depression) during pregnancy can disrupt fetal brain development and negatively affect infant behavior. Prenatal distress rose substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic according to most, but not all, studies, raising concerns about its potential effects on brain connectivity and behavior in infants.
Method: We investigated 63 mother-infant pairs as part of the Pregnancy during the COVID-19 Pandemic study.