The effect of psychological distress on health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barry, Vaughn; Stout, Mary E; Lynch, Mary Ellen; Mattis, Shanna; Tran, Duc Q; Antun, Ana; Ribeiro, Maria JA; Stein, Sidney F; Kempton, Christine L
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 25:Number 2(2020)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 239
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: chronic illness -- distress -- outcomes -- psychological distress -- quality of life; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105319842931
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Distress effects are widely examined in cross-sectional studies with less known about effects on future health. This review summarizes distress impacts on health among adults in prospective studies and describes available distress measurement tools. Four inter-disciplinary databases were searched. Effects of distress on mortality and other outcomes were reviewed and estimated in a meta-analysis. A total of 19 studies were assessed which incorporated 10 distress tools. Distress had a detrimental effect on health regardless of the population studied, distress tool used, and health outcome examined. There was an increased mortality risk among those reporting high versus low distress (pooled hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.29 (1.15–1.46)).