Latest news with #JournalofAffectiveDisorders
Economic Times
21-07-2025
- Health
- Economic Times
'Monday Blues' are more than a meme: New study reveals long-term impact of weekday anxiety
iStock New research reveals that Monday anxiety isn't just psychological—it leaves a biological imprint. A UK study found cortisol levels in hair samples of people anxious on Mondays were up to 23% higher. (Image: iStock) For decades, "Monday Blues" has been dismissed as a cultural cliché—a punchline to countless memes, tweets, and coffee mug slogans. But new research suggests that this dreaded start to the week may not just be in our heads—it could be etched into our biology. A recent study reported by VICE, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has revealed that anxiety felt specifically on Mondays is leaving a measurable biological footprint. According to the findings, people who reported experiencing stress at the start of the week had cortisol levels up to 23 percent higher than those who reported stress on any other day. The study, led by Dr. Tarani Chandola, analyzed hair samples from more than 3,500 older adults across the UK. Cortisol—the body's primary stress hormone—was found in significantly elevated concentrations in people who reported Monday-specific anxiety. And this wasn't a fleeting phenomenon. The cortisol was still detectable in hair samples taken weeks, even months, later. This finding is particularly notable because cortisol is a key biomarker for long-term stress exposure. It's the hormone responsible for our fight-or-flight response, triggered when the brain perceives threat or danger. Over time, sustained levels of cortisol are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, elevated blood pressure, and even diabetes. In short, your Monday dread might be doing more than souring your mood—it could be silently undermining your health. One of the most revealing aspects of the study is that this effect isn't limited to people in the workforce. Even retirees—individuals technically free from Monday morning meetings and project deadlines—showed elevated cortisol levels associated with Monday anxiety. This suggests that the anxiety isn't simply linked to employment or workload, but something deeper and more ingrained. 'The nervous system might still be clocked in, even if you're not,' the researchers noted. In other words, your body could still be reacting to decades of pattern conditioning, responding to the start of the week as if it's an automatic alarm for stress. Doctors have long observed a spike in cardiac events on Mondays—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the 'Monday effect.' Heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths are statistically more likely to occur on the first day of the week, a trend often attributed to the abrupt transition from weekend rest to weekday stress. This new research lends physiological support to that observation, suggesting that Monday-induced cortisol surges may indeed be contributing to this phenomenon. Dr. Chandola's findings highlight something many people have always suspected but couldn't quite prove: we don't adapt to Monday stress over time. Instead, for many, the anxiety becomes part of a repeating weekly cycle. And now, there's evidence that our bodies carry that stress forward—quietly, persistently, and quite literally growing out of us in strands of hair. So, the next time you feel that familiar dread creeping in on Sunday evening, it might help to remember—your body isn't being dramatic. It's just reacting to a pattern that's become all too real.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
'Monday Blues' are more than a meme: New study reveals long-term impact of weekday anxiety
For decades, " Monday Blues " has been dismissed as a cultural cliché—a punchline to countless memes, tweets, and coffee mug slogans. But new research suggests that this dreaded start to the week may not just be in our heads—it could be etched into our biology. A recent study reported by VICE, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders has revealed that anxiety felt specifically on Mondays is leaving a measurable biological footprint. According to the findings, people who reported experiencing stress at the start of the week had cortisol levels up to 23 percent higher than those who reported stress on any other day. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Project Management CXO Product Management Degree others Others Operations Management PGDM Digital Marketing Data Analytics healthcare MCA Design Thinking Finance MBA Cybersecurity Technology Public Policy Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Leadership Data Science Data Science Management Skills you'll gain: Project Planning & Governance Agile Software Development Practices Project Management Tools & Software Techniques Scrum Framework Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Programme in IT Project Management Starts on Jun 20, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Portfolio Management Project Planning & Risk Analysis Strategic Project/Portfolio Selection Adaptive & Agile Project Management Duration: 6 Months IIT Delhi Certificate Programme in Project Management Starts on May 30, 2024 Get Details — weedgarf (@weedgarf) Cortisol and the Hair-Raising Evidence The study, led by Dr. Tarani Chandola, analyzed hair samples from more than 3,500 older adults across the UK. Cortisol—the body's primary stress hormone—was found in significantly elevated concentrations in people who reported Monday-specific anxiety. And this wasn't a fleeting phenomenon. The cortisol was still detectable in hair samples taken weeks, even months, later. This finding is particularly notable because cortisol is a key biomarker for long-term stress exposure . It's the hormone responsible for our fight-or-flight response, triggered when the brain perceives threat or danger. Over time, sustained levels of cortisol are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, weakened immunity, elevated blood pressure, and even diabetes. In short, your Monday dread might be doing more than souring your mood—it could be silently undermining your health. You Might Also Like: Your money stress may not be about the paycheck: What's really behind your financial anxiety? It's Not Just About Work One of the most revealing aspects of the study is that this effect isn't limited to people in the workforce. Even retirees—individuals technically free from Monday morning meetings and project deadlines—showed elevated cortisol levels associated with Monday anxiety. This suggests that the anxiety isn't simply linked to employment or workload, but something deeper and more ingrained. 'The nervous system might still be clocked in, even if you're not,' the researchers noted. In other words, your body could still be reacting to decades of pattern conditioning , responding to the start of the week as if it's an automatic alarm for stress. The 'Monday Effect' and Your Heart Doctors have long observed a spike in cardiac events on Mondays—a phenomenon commonly referred to as the 'Monday effect.' Heart attacks and sudden cardiac deaths are statistically more likely to occur on the first day of the week, a trend often attributed to the abrupt transition from weekend rest to weekday stress. This new research lends physiological support to that observation, suggesting that Monday-induced cortisol surges may indeed be contributing to this phenomenon. A Dread You Can't Shake Off Dr. Chandola's findings highlight something many people have always suspected but couldn't quite prove: we don't adapt to Monday stress over time. Instead, for many, the anxiety becomes part of a repeating weekly cycle. And now, there's evidence that our bodies carry that stress forward—quietly, persistently, and quite literally growing out of us in strands of hair. You Might Also Like: Can stress permanently change your body? Expert reveals the irreversible effects of mental strain So, the next time you feel that familiar dread creeping in on Sunday evening, it might help to remember—your body isn't being dramatic. It's just reacting to a pattern that's become all too real.
News.com.au
13-07-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
‘Anxious Mondays' linked to heart health risks
In news that should come as no surprise to anyone with a job, the Monday Blues aren't great for your health. Not to be confused with its older, scarier sibling, the Sunday Scaries, the Monday Blues describes that feeling of dread you have starting another working week. Not only do you have to return to work after a two-day break, but you're still five days away from your next respite. Now, a study has shown that feeling jittery as the week kicks off isn't just a mood – it leaves a biochemical footprint and drives long-term stress across the body. Monday scaries linked to higher stress hormones The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that older adults who get that pang of anxiety on a Monday have significantly higher long-term stress hormone levels up to two months later. And here's the kicker. Even after you leave the workforce and retire, that almost automatic feeling of anxiousness on a Monday will still haunt you – showing a deep-rooted link between the start of the working week and dysregulation of the body's natural stress response system, which is a known driver of heart disease. Unlikely to be random, researchers say Researchers, including those from the University of Hong Kong, analysed data from more than 3500 adult participants of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Older adults in the study who experienced anxiety on Mondays showed nearly 25 per cent higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their hair samples. This suggests increased cumulative stress over two months compared to those reporting anxiety on different days. Alarmingly, Mondays are linked to a nearly 20 per cent spike in heart attacks. 'The increase in (cardiovascular) events on Mondays is unlikely to be a random phenomenon,' the researchers said. Scientists suspect that the body's hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which manages stress hormones such as cortisol, may be involved. Prolonged elevation of the HPA axis is associated with hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune system problems. 'This study found strong evidence for an association between reporting anxiety on Mondays and HPA-axis dysregulation,' the researchers explained. 'The anxious Monday association with HPA-axis dysregulation measured subsequently was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, with no reduction in the association among those not at work,' they wrote. 'This isn't about work' Previous studies indicated higher stress hormone levels during weekdays compared to weekends, but the newest research is the first to identify Mondays as particularly disruptive. 'For some older adults, the week's transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn't about work – it's about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end,' Tarani Chandola, one of the authors of the study, said.
New York Post
12-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
That dread you feel on Mondays is real — and it's doing more damage than you think, new study finds
Hate Mondays? Turns out your body does, too. A new study from the University of Hong Kong found that older adults who felt anxious on Mondays had 23% higher levels of stress hormone cortisol in their body up to two months later, compared to those who reported anxiety on other days. And that Monday-specific stress could be quietly damaging your health — no matter your age, job status or daily routine, experts said. Advertisement The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, analyzed data from more than 3,500 adults over age 50 in England. Participants first reported how anxious they felt and what day of the week it occurred. One to two months later, researchers collected hair samples to measure cortisol — a marker of how much stress had accumulated over time. 3 A new study from the University of Hong Kong found that older adults who felt anxious on Mondays had higher levels of stress hormoes in their body up to two months later. Marco – Cortisol helps humans stay alert and respond to threats — but when it stays high for too long, it can weaken the immune system and raise the risk of heart disease, anxiety and other chronic problems. Advertisement Monday anxiety was the only day linked to a lasting cortisol spike likely because the day carries a sense of 'uncertainty, danger or dread,' said Modupe Akinola, a professor at Columbia Business School who studies stress and performance. This effect showed up even in retirees, a sign that years of Monday stress may leave a lasting imprint on the brain and body. The stress response is partly psychological — driven by our expectations — but shifts in sleep, eating and activity on weekends can also throw off the body's internal clock, making Monday morning feel even worse, Robert Sapolsky, a biologist and neuroscientist at Stanford University who studies stress, told The Post. 'Cortisol is not just reactive — a lot of what it does is anticipatory,' said Sapolsky, author of 'Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.' 'Expectation of stress can drive cortisol levels even higher than the stress itself.' Advertisement 3 This effect showed up even in retirees, a sign that years of Monday stress may leave a lasting imprint on the brain and body. – The jolt from weekend to weekday responsibilities makes Mondays feel harder, noted Akinola. 'There is something effortful about Mondays — you have to get up, get dressed, get focused, deal with traffic, when over the weekend you typically don't deal with these things,' Akinola said. 'All of those extra demands that come on Monday make it feel like you may not have the resources to cope … and your body's stress system is telling you to get ready to battle.' That stress buildup may help explain why heart attacks are more common on Mondays — a pattern documented in previous studies linking the start of the week to increased cardiovascular risk. Advertisement This repeated psychological strain, especially the kind built into our daily routines, can gradually wear down the body and leave it more vulnerable to long-term health risks, Sapolsky said. 3 Stress buildup may help explain why heart attacks are more common on Mondays — a pattern documented in previous studies linking the start of the week to increased cardiovascular risk. Pixel-Shot – Akinola recommends a weekly 'stress inventory' — spotting what you're dreading before your body kicks into fight-or-flight mode. 'People typically don't even realize they are stressed, let alone have clarity on what is stressing them out and how their body might respond,' Akinola said. 'A daily or weekly stress inventory … will help stress move from being background noise to top of mind and when this happens, you can actually take control.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
OCD May Start in the Gut, Not the Brain, Surprising New Study Finds
Obsessive-compulsive disorder has long been considered a problem of the brain, but new research suggests the real driver might be hiding in the gut. A team of scientists from Chongqing Medical University in China has uncovered a surprising link between gut bacteria and OCD, a chronic condition affecting up to 3 percent of people worldwide. Their findings, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, point to specific microbes in the digestive system that may help cause or prevent the disorder, redefining how we think about its origins and how it might one day be treated. The researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization to connect the dots between genes, gut bacteria, and OCD. By analyzing data from over 217,000 people, they were able to isolate six types of gut bacteria linked to the condition. Three—Bacillales, Eubacterium, and Lachnospiraceae UCG001—were associated with increased risk. The other three—Proteobacteria, Ruminococcaceae, and Bilophila—appeared to play a protective role. 'Specific gut microbiota might have a causal relationship with OCD,' the study authors wrote, noting this is the first research to strengthen the case for direct causality between bacteria and OCD rather than a mere association. That distinction matters. Because genes are set at birth, this method helps rule out outside influences like diet or lifestyle, making it more likely that these microbes are directly involved in OCD development, not just of these bacteria have been tied to mental health before. Low levels of Ruminococcaceae, for example, have also been observed in people with depression. Taken together, the findings underscore the profound impact of the gut-brain axis, an internal feedback loop that science is only beginning to fully comprehend. OCD is often treated with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and SSRIs, but those approaches don't work for everyone. In fact, 25 to 40 percent of patients see little or no benefit. This new research hints at future therapies that may involve targeting gut bacteria instead of, or in addition to, brain chemistry. 'Despite the utilization of standard treatments, many patients experience suboptimal or no response,' the researchers noted. 'The personal and societal toll of OCD is substantial.' For now, the findings raise more questions than answers, but they open the door to a radical new understanding of one of mental health's most stubborn May Start in the Gut, Not the Brain, Surprising New Study Finds first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 8, 2025
