Work-related stress and burnout: Is epigenetic aging the missing link?
Consequently, our results do not support the hypothesis that epigenetic aging serves as a biological mechanism linking work-related stress or biological stress markers to burnout symptoms. While work-related stress significantly predicts burnout and depressive symptoms, its association does not appear to be driven by epigenetic aging pathways in a low to moderately burdened population. These findings underscore the need for longer follow-up studies to explore alternative biological and psychosocial pathways that shape the long-term consequences of work-related stress on mental health.
Authors
- Andreas Walther (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4516-1783)
- Magdalena Wekenborg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4498-107X)
- Nicole Rothe
- Marlene Penz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9436-7190)
- J. Eder (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0610-1816)
- Nina Alexander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7412-0163)
- Juulia Jylhävä (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0250-4491)
- Sabrina Illius (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7736-0149)
- Friederike Sophie David (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9521-5669)
- Robert E. Miller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8665-5248)
- Clemens Kirschbaum
Institutions
- Johannes Kepler University of Linz (AT)
- University of Bonn (DE)
- Tampere University of Applied Sciences (FI)
- Philipps University of Marburg (DE)
- Medical University of Graz (AT)
- University Hospital Bonn (DE)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- MSH Medical School Hamburg – University of Applied Sciences and Medical University (DE)
- Psychologische Hochschule Berlin (DE)
- Tampere University (FI)
- University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus (DE)
- Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Dresden – University of Applied Sciences (DE)
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Clinical Epigenetics
- Published
- 2025-09-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13148-025-01968-z
- Primary Topic
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Technische Universität Dresden