Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

[Emily]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24767620

[sharon sanders]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

from above link:

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Jun;44:60-70. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.02.016. Epub 2014 Mar 3.

Brief cognitive intervention can modulate neuroendocrine stress responses to the Trier Social Stress Test: buffering effects of a compassionate goal orientation.
Abelson JL1, Erickson TM2, Mayer SE3, Crocker J4, Briggs H3, Lopez-Duran NL3, Liberzon I3.

snip

CONCLUSIONS:
Brief intervention to shift focus from competitive self-promotion to a goal orientation of helping-others can reduce HPA-axis activation to a potent psychosocial stressor. This supports the potential for developing brief interventions as inoculation tools to reduce the impact of predictable stressors and lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress.

[Nika]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

Love how this is proven scientifically. I think most of us have felt this very thing in our own lives.

[Lizw]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

If nothing else, I should think that engaging in altruistic work for others would take one's mind off one's own troubles. But this is something I've noticed in dealing with a long line of relatives and friends with depression and similar illnesses. They all tend to be involved in some way with the care of other people or of animals. One rescues dogs, another volunteers at family planning clinics, etc. I never made a connection between those activities and any clinical reason for it. Very interesting.

[Emily]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

Liz, I'd caution that the article isn't recommending altruism, especially as expressed in care taking, as a method for treating a true illness like depression can be. Maybe it could help recovery from reactive depression, but I'd be concerned about anyone taking on the burden of care taking if they have a history of bouts with any disabling illness.

Having a human or animal dependent can be a joy and a comfort, but when they get sick it can be an enormous financial and emotional stress. Sometimes it's the care taking role itself that causes stress and reactive depression.

Giving a care taker a break might be a way to help others when you can't commit to sole responsibility for a dependent.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

Love how this is proven scientifically. I think most of us have felt this very thing in our own lives.

I'll credit Oxytocin. It's part of the "molecules of emotion" cycles where if sufficient levels of one substance can bind to certain receptors they act as antagonists to block the undesirable substances. Candace Pert covers the subject well in her book, "Molecules of Emotion". I found the book fascinating.

Also see: Psychosocial & Psychophysiological effects of human-animal interactions: the possible role of oxytocin .

I think this paper should also have made mention of the effect of endogenous anandamide produced from the human's exercise after exercising the animal.

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[Nika]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

I think i missed the animal involvement in the original paper?

[Lizw]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

Liz, I'd caution that the article isn't recommending altruism, especially as expressed in care taking, as a method for treating a true illness like depression can be. Maybe it could help recovery from reactive depression, but I'd be concerned about anyone taking on the burden of care taking if they have a history of bouts with any disabling illness.

No, was certainly not suggesting that. Just making an observation. I do have an extensive history of dealing with depression (not my own, that of friends, family and patients). When I was an EMT, I was often recruited to take the 'psych' calls, because I don't get rattled. And I was the longterm caregiver for a relative with depression and bipolar disease, not well controlled with medication. Also worked on various medical and mental health hotlines, including in the early days of AIDS. So I've seen a lot of what I always considered to be coping mechanisms. I just didn't realize any research had been done in this area.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

I think i missed the animal involvement in the original paper?

It evokes a similar response, but much of the research has been on animals.

Neurobiology[edit]

There is evidence in a variety of species that the hormones oxytocin and vasopressin are involved in the bonding process, and in other forms of prosocial and reproductive behavior. Both chemicals facilitate pair bonding and maternal behavior in experiments on laboratory animals. In humans, there is evidence that oxytocin and vasopressin are released during labor and breastfeeding, and that these events are associated with maternal bonding. According to one model, social isolation leads to stress, which is associated with activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the release of cortisol. Positive social interaction is associated with increased oxytocin. This leads to bonding, which is also associated with higher levels of oxytocin and vasopressin, and reduced stress and stress-related hormones.[17]

Oxytocin is associated with higher levels of trust in laboratory studies on humans. It has been called the "cuddle chemical" for its role in facilitating trust and attachment.[18] In the reward centers of the limbic system, the neurotransmitter dopamine may interact with oxytocin and further increase the likelihood of bonding. One team of researchers has argued that oxytocin only plays a secondary role in affiliation, and that endogenous opiates play the central role. According to this model, affiliation is a function of the brain systems underlying reward and memory formation.[19]

Because the vast majority of this research has been done on animals—and the majority of that on rodents—these findings must be taken with caution when applied to humans. One of the few studies that looked at the influence of hormones on human bonding compared participants who had recently fallen in love with a control group. There were no differences for most of the hormones measured, including LH, estradiol, progesterone, DHEAS, and androstenedione. Testosterone and FSH were lower in men who had recently fallen in love, and there was also a difference in blood cortisol for both sexes, with higher levels in the group that was in love. These differences disappeared after 12–28 months and may reflect the temporary stress and arousal of a new relationship.[20]

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[Nika]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

Yep am aware of oxytocin.

Friend of mine in my 3rd postdoc studied the fascinating landscape of hormones and neuroplasticity in response to pregnancy, parturition and nursing in rodents. Many a night i spent awake in the near dark, breastfeeding, wondering when my neuroplasticity would kick in and i wouldnt feel like a momma-zombie anymore (winks).

[Emily]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

No, was certainly not suggesting that. Just making an observation. I do have an extensive history of dealing with depression (not my own, that of friends, family and patients). When I was an EMT, I was often recruited to take the 'psych' calls, because I don't get rattled. And I was the longterm caregiver for a relative with depression and bipolar disease, not well controlled with medication. Also worked on various medical and mental health hotlines, including in the early days of AIDS. So I've seen a lot of what I always considered to be coping mechanisms. I just didn't realize any research had been done in this area.

Your relative sounds very fortunate to have had you in his/her corner. I think this article would support both your career and service to others as very synergistic in a positive way.

I'm thinking that this research could also be helpful to 'healthy' people with careers and hobbies that don't involve altruism. Maybe creating a niche for regular practice could fortify them for when the going gets rough in life or just help with day-to-day stresses.

[Lizw]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

I'm thinking that this research could also be helpful to 'healthy' people with careers and hobbies that don't involve altruism. Maybe creating a niche for regular practice could fortify them for when the going gets rough in life or just help with day-to-day stresses.

The Big Brother/Big Sister program, Boy and Girl Scouts, church relief, food pantry groups, and a lot of others would certainly agree with that!

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: Study lends support to growing evidence that compassion and altruistic goals can moderate the effects of stress

.....I'm thinking that this research could also be helpful to 'healthy' people with careers and hobbies that don't involve altruism. Maybe creating a niche for regular practice could fortify them for when the going gets rough in life or just help with day-to-day stresses.

Very good point - it would establish some balance in their lives.

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