Japanese Psychological Research 2011, Volume 53, No.

2, 111112 Special issue: Psychobiological approaches to stress and health

doi: 10.1111/j.1468-5884.2011.00458.x

Editorial: Psychobiological approaches to stress and health: Recent progress

Psychobiology is the study of complex biological responses to mental stress and psychological factors, which helps to tease apart the connection between mind and body. An evolving research area is now using sophisticated psychobiological approaches to understand the mechanisms that underlie the association between psychosocial factors and various health outcomes. Several methodological approaches are commonly used in this area, which include: (a) examining responses to laboratory-induced mental stress tasks under controlled experimental conditions, which allow individual differences in biological responses to standardized stress to be evaluated and related to psychosocial risk factors; (b) taking ambulatory measures in naturalistic settings and relating them to everyday psychosocial factors and events; (c) undertaking large epidemiological studies of the population that track individuals over time, relating psychobiological measures to hard clinical end-points, such as death. Emerging data has indicated that these approaches are useful to predict various markers of health, and thus gain better understanding about the psychobiological mechanisms. Researchers in the eld of psychobiology have begun to use a range of novel biomarkers, some of which are described in this issue, including salivary cortisol, inammatory markers, and salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). In addition, psychophysiologists are continuing to develop simple noninvasive methods by which to examine the cardiovascular system, including vascular function and parasympathetic nervous activity.
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In this special issue of Japanese Psychological Research we focus on novel psychobiological approaches that are relevant to health outcomes. Several studies have been conducted in naturalistic settings using ambulatory sampling methods, which are particularly important because such methods have the advantage of ecological validity, evaluating biological activity in real life rather than the articial conditions of a laboratory or clinic. Okamura, Tsuda, and Matsuishi (2011) show an association between loneliness and cortisol awakening responses at the weekend but not on a week day, suggesting an intriguing interplay between social interaction and natural biological circadian rhythm. Wawrzyniak and Whiteman (2011) present data in undergraduate students to demonstrate an association between stress during nal examinations and lower sIgA release rates, indicating poorer immune functioning. However, interaction with other students during the exams was protective of innate mucosal immunity, which further emphasizes the importance of social interaction. Hamer and Chida (2011) present data from a general population study that investigates the association between life satisfaction and novel inammatory markers, which provides some insight into possible mechanisms explaining a link between positive psychology and better health outcomes in the community. Data from Tanaka, Kato, Matsumura, Horiguchi, Ogasawara, and Sawada (2011) build on the established model of allostatic load to show important associations with vascular health in young, healthy participants using a novel nger plethysmography technique. Behavior plays an

*Correspondence concerning this article should be sent to: Mark Hamer, Psychology Group, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, 119 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. (E-mail: m.hamer@ucl.ac.uk)
1

Akira Tsuda, Department of Psychology, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka 839-8502, Japan (E-mail: tsuda_akira@kurume-u.ac.jp)

2011 Japanese Psychological Association. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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M. Hamer and A. Tsuda

important role in psychobiology and Okun (2011) highlights an emerging area, describing the immunological and endocrinological consequences of disrupted or disturbed sleep, as well as how these relationships may impact overall health. In the rst of several psychophysiological studies included in this issue, Ottaviani and Shapiro (2011) attempt to tease apart the effects of rumination from the stress response by using a novel experimental manipulation to distract participants. Their results uncover an intriguing association between rumination and parasympathetic activity. In the next psychophysiological study, Phillips (2011) challenges the traditional reactivity hypothesis that assumes a link between hyper-reactivity and ill health, and presents a series of results to suggest instead that hypo-reactivity to mental stressors is associated with several adverse health outcomes. In the nal paper, Ohira (2011) reviews the role of genetics in psychophysiology, a much under-researched area in this eld. Specically, he presents models to link polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter gene with vulnerability to depression and anxiety. Such models have much promise in beginning to unravel individual variability in psychobiological responses. In summary, this edition of Japanese Psychological Research presents some of the recent developments in the area of psychobiology. Most of these measures can be easily taken across the lifespan, are relatively cheap to undertake, and suitable for use in the clinic, naturalistic settings, and population-based studies. We hope that this special edition will guide and inspire future research in this area by informing best practice methodology as well as interpretation of ndings. In order to move the eld forward and gain clinical recognition we must now start to think about demonstrating causality, which can only be shown through experimental manipulation. In future work it will be critical to demonstrate that the manipulation of psychosocial

factors (e.g. loneliness, depression, chronic stress, life satisfaction) and behaviors (e.g. physical activity, sleep) has measurable effects on psychobiological indicators and hard end points such as cardiovascular disease and mortality. MARK HAMER* University College London and AKIRA TSUDA1 Kurume University

References
Hamer, M., & Chida, Y. (2011). Life satisfaction and inammatory biomarkers: The 2008 Scottish Health Survey. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 133139. Ohira, H. (2011). Modulation of stress reactivity in brain and body by serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 193210. Okamura, H., Tsuda, A., & Matsuishi, T. (2011). The relationship between perceived loneliness and cortisol awakening responses on work days and weekends. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 113120. Okun, M. L. (2011). Biological consequences of disturbed sleep: Important mediators of health? Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 163176. Ottaviani, C., & Shapiro, D. (2011). Do we need a stressor to be stressed? Insights from cardiac regulation. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 155162. Phillips, A. C. (2011). Blunted as well as exaggerated cardiovascular reactivity to stress is associated with negative health outcomes. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 177192. Tanaka, G., Kato, Y., Matsumura, K., Horiguchi, M., Ogasawara, H., & Sawada, Y. (2011). The association between chronic psychosocial stress, allostatic load, and vascular health in asymptomatic young men: A pilot study using a novel nger arterial stiffness index. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 140154. Wawrzyniak, A. J., & Whiteman, M. C. P. (2011). Perceived stress, loneliness, and interaction with fellow students does not affect innate mucosal immunity in rst year university students. Japanese Psychological Research, 53, 121 132.

Japanese Psychological Association 2011.