Increased academic stress is associated with decreased plasma BDNF in Chilean college students

PeerJ. 2023 Nov 3:11:e16357. doi: 10.7717/peerj.16357. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Academic stress (AS) is a prevalent challenge faced by university students, potentially affecting molecular indicators such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and global DNA methylation (G-DNA-M). These indicators could illuminate the physiological ramifications of academic stress.

Study design and methods: This research followed a quantitative, non-experimental, longitudinal panel design spanning two academic semesters, observing phenomena in their natural context. Students from the Medical Technology program at Universidad de Concepción, Chile were involved, with assessments at the beginning and during heightened academic stress periods.

Sample: Of the total participants, 63.0% were females, with an average age of 21.14 years at baseline, and 36.92% were males, averaging 21.36 years. By the study's conclusion, female participants averaged 21.95 years, and males 22.13 years.

Results: Significant differences were observed between initial and final assessments for the SISCO-II Inventory of Academic Stress and Beck Depression Inventory-II, notably in stressor scores, and physical, and psychological reactions. Gender differences emerged in the final physical and psychological reactions. No significant changes were detected between the two assessments in plasma BDNF or G-DNA-M values. A refined predictive model showcased that, on average, there was a 3.56% decrease in females' plasma BDNF at the final assessment and a 17.14% decrease in males. In the sample, the G-DNA-M percentage at the final assessment increased by 15.06% from the baseline for females and 18.96% for males.

Conclusions: The study underscores the physiological impact of academic stress on university students, evidenced by changes in markers like BDNF and G-DNA-M. These findings offer an in-depth understanding of the intricate mechanisms regulating academic stress responses and highlight the need for interventions tailored to mitigate its physiological and psychological effects.

Keywords: Academic stress; BDNF; Global DNA methylation; Multi-variate analysis; Plasma BDNF; SISCO-II.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor* / genetics
  • Chile
  • DNA
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Stress, Psychological* / epidemiology
  • Students
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • DNA

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Grants: Juan-Luis Castillo-Navarrete was supported by OT:2016-6 Facultad de Medicina Universidad de Concepción and by Doctoral Scholarship Conicyt No 21160620. Alejandra Guzman-Castillo was supported by Regular DIN DIREG01/2021, Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.