Heart Disease and the Stress Hypothesis in the Mid-twentieth Century

In this podcast, we talk to Heather Rogers about her recently published review in Psychology: Research and Review that discusses the history of heart disease as a public health problem. Heather also talks about the contribution of advancements in scientific knowledge regarding stress in the 1950’s and 60’s that support the hypothesis of stress as a one cause of disease.

Social, economic and occupational influences on the development of heart disease were noted as early as the late 1940’s. It was reported that those in a high stress profession such as doctors were 1.18 times more likely to die of heart disease in the general male population. Naturally, it was assumed that  a higher level of education was associated with a higher risk of heart disease, however, this correlation was disputed in the early 50’s. It was thought that a person dying would have seen a consulting physician or cardiologist who could diagnose coronary heart disease.

As time progressed, some believed that coronary disease deaths in professional workers were more common than in those with unskilled professions. In addition, females were deemed ‘immune’ further perpetuating the notion that coronary heart disease was associated with white, middle class, professional males.

In the 1950’s, numerous articles highlighted the importance of emotions and mental health on the heart and the idea of stress merged with psychological constructs like tension. It was tension that many felt was the cause of mental disorders but had no bearing on physical disease states.

Heather believes that researchers need multidisciplinary training in order to advance the field and further our understanding of the link between psychosocial factors and chronic disease.


View the latest posts on the On Health homepage