Psychosocial stress represents a significant factor in the development of functional somatic syndrome (FSS) and can induce long-term modifications at the epigenetic level. Fischer et al. conducted the first systematic review (of 16 studies with a total of 955 participants) on whether individuals with FSS are characterized by specific alterations in DNA methylation. In chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome, altered DNA methylation of genes regulating cellular signalling and immune functioning was found, which could be implicated in key pathophysiological alterations in FSS.

Pages 672–681; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001237

Stevens et al. assessed whether different types of childhood maltreatment (such as forms of abuse or forms of neglect) had differing relationships with heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity in adulthood (n = 967). More abuse was significantly associated with lower HRV, whereas more neglect was significantly associated with higher HRV. Additionally, higher abuse was associated with more adult mood-related pathology. Low HRV may be a transdiagnostic endophenotype for mood-related pathology. Greater differentiation between abuse and neglect is appropriate when investigating the role of childhood maltreatment in adult health outcomes, including HRV.

Pages 682–690; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001239

Racial discrimination is a pervasive chronic stressor, particularly among racial and ethnic minority children and adolescents. Emlaw et al. examined the association between racial discrimination context (peer, educational, institutional, and cumulative) and diurnal cortisol in adolescents with overweight and obesity (n = 100). More racial discrimination among peers (Adolescent Discrimination Distress Index) was associated with flatter diurnal salivary cortisol slopes cross-sectionally. If the associations hold in a longitudinal study, programs to buffer these effects and policies to eliminate discrimination exposure among adolescents should be developed.

Pages 691–698; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001235

Kirsch et al. examined educational and racial disparities in self-reported economic hardships (n = 858) during the 2008 Great Recession and their associations with systemic inflammatory physiology at midlife. In cross-sectional findings, Black race/ethnicity and lower education independently predicted more cumulative recession hardship exposure. Recession hardship, in turn, predicted higher circulating levels of inflammatory proteins (IL-6 and CRP) associated with long-term health. Race/ethnicity, education, and psychological well-being did not moderate the relationship between recession hardship exposure and inflammatory proteins. These initial findings point to the potential contribution of recession hardship to inflammatory physiology.

Pages 699–709; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001233

The links among trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and hypertension are established, but underlying mechanisms are unclear. Bapolisi et al. tested whether PTSD mediated between trauma and hypertension and the influence of psychological factors (emotion regulation) and interpersonal factors (social support). In patients (n = 212) recruited from a general hospital in an area of armed conflict, PTSD partially mediated the relationship between human-made trauma and hypertension. Social support and maladaptive emotion regulation moderated the mediation model’s path between human-made trauma and PTSD: social support weakened the path, and maladaptive emotion regulation strengthened the path.

Pages 710–715; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001225

Yu and Juster examined interpartner associations of allostatic load (AL) in older different-sex couples (n = 4676 individuals) over a four-year period. AL was indexed by immune, metabolic, renal, cardiovascular, and anthropometric parameters. Higher partner AL at baseline significantly predicted higher AL for the other at both baseline and four years later. The findings suggest that older couples’ physiological responses to environmental stress are not only linked concurrently, but the associations persist after four years, suggesting a long-term effect of couples’ psychosocial context and physiology on each other.

Pages 716–726; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001232

Igudesman et al. evaluated the associations of binge-eating frequency, presence or absence and frequency of vomiting, laxative use, compulsive exercise, and dietary restraint with abundances of gut microbial genera and species among 265 participants with binge-eating disorder or bulimia nervosa. Laxative use was highly and uniformly predictive of a reduced gut microbial diversity, including reduced potential commensals and pathobionts. Laxative use should be assessed and accounted for in all future microbial studies of eating and eating disorders.

Pages 727–735; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001226

Insomnia and poor sleep quality are reported frequently by women during the perinatal period. Both increase risk for postpartum depression, with less known about their association with postpartum anxiety. Okun and Lac assessed whether perinatal sleep disturbances predicted depression and anxiety symptomatology across each month of the first six months postpartum in women with a history of depression (n = 159). Between-person differences and within-person changes supported postnatal insomnia and poor sleep quality’s associations with more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Evaluation and mitigation of perinatal sleep disturbance offers a way to reduce postpartum mood disorders and subsequent negative outcomes.

Pages 736–743; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001234

Sleep restriction alters daytime cardiac activity. There is minimal research on the cumulative elevating effects on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) of sleep loss and the response after subsequent recovery sleep. Reichenberger et al. examined patterns of HR and BP in participants (n = 15) across baseline, sleep restriction, and recovery. Daytime HR and systolic BP (SBP) increased following successive nights of sleep restriction. HR and SBP did not recover to baseline levels following two recovery nights of sleep, suggesting longer recovery sleep may be necessary after multiple consecutive nights of moderate sleep restriction.

Pages 744–751; https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000001229