Study: Do you know which the most harmful stress to health is, that creates series of bad consequences?

Financial stress is the most damaging to an individual's health and general well-being, accelerates the aging process, affects health biomarkers and has a stronger effect on mental health compared to the consequences of grieving an illness, severe loss or divorce, according to a new study by British scientists.

 Almost 5,000 adults aged 50 and over took part in the British study, which was carried out by scientists from University College London (UCL) and King's College, who said their analysis was the first to investigate how they differed from types of chronic health-related stress in older age groups.

A nationally representative study confirmed that financial stress is associated with long-term changes in key health indicators, such as the immune, nervous and hormonal systems.

They compared the six most common stress factors

Of all the six most common stressors studied by the British scientists, namely financial stress, caring for a seriously ill or disabled person, disability, bereavement in the family, illness and divorce, financial stress was found to be the most damaging factor associated with the most risky health outcomes.

This was determined by examining four biomarkers in the blood – cortisol (a hormone produced in response to stress), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). All of these are immune factors associated with the development of stress, the development of inflammation, and aging, while IGF-1 is associated with both aging and longevity.

The study found that study participants who were stressed about their financial situation alone were 60 percent more likely to develop a high-risk health profile after four years.

For each additional stressful situation, such as divorce, that probability jumped an additional 19 percent.

The observed relationship held regardless of the genetics, socioeconomic factors, age or gender of the participants, or their lifestyle.

The study also found that financial stress, severe loss, and long-term illness most strongly influenced changes in immune and neuroendocrine biomarkers, suggesting a continuing physical effect of chronic stress.

Another conclusion of British scientists is that chronic stress can cause hormonal changes and immune reactions, which can affect the worsening of physical and mental health problems.

Epidemiologist Odessa Hamilton from UCL highlighted the invasive impact of financial stress on various aspects of life, eventually manifesting in some cases as family conflict, social exclusion, homelessness or hunger.

Although the British study does not directly link stress and long-term health problems, it does highlight the huge impact stress has on the aging body.

The results of the research were published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity.