Gaby
A team of researchers from the University of Hong Kong has found that the phenomenon known as “Monday anxiety” affects both working individuals and retirees. This indicates a deeply rooted connection between the start of the workweek and disruptions in the body’s stress response system, a known factor in the development of heart disease.
The university’s study revealed that older adults who experience anxiety on Mondays show a significant increase in stress hormone levels that can last for up to two months.
What Did the Scientists Discover?
During the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 3,500 adult participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
In hair samples from older participants who reported Monday anxiety, there was nearly a 25% increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. This suggests a cumulative effect of stress over a two-month period. Such an increase was not observed in their peers who reported anxiety on other days, according to the Independent.
The researchers were surprised to find that signs of anxiety on Mondays were also present among retirees. This suggests that the stresses associated with the start of the week are not solely linked to work.
According to the scientists, not only workplace demands but also societal rhythms impact human physiology, creating health risks, particularly for the cardiovascular system, on Mondays.
On Mondays, the incidence of heart attacks increases by nearly 20%. Researchers assert that this phenomenon is not coincidental. The team hypothesized that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which regulates stress hormones like cortisol, plays a significant role in this process.
It is known that chronic dysregulation of stress hormones contributes to the development of hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction.
Previously, researchers often emphasized that the threat of stress increases during weekdays compared to weekends. However, this new scientific work has identified Mondays as uniquely destructive.
“For some older adults, the transition to a new week triggers a cascade of biological reactions that can last for months. It’s not just about work; it’s about how deeply Mondays are ingrained in our stress physiology, making their presence felt even after retirement,” noted Tarani Chandola, a co-author of the study.
The team hopes that addressing the stressors typical of Mondays could lead to new strategies for combating heart disease in an aging population.
The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.
