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    Progressive exercise training improves cardiovascular psychophysiological outcomes in young adult women with a history of adverse childhood experiences


    Rogers, Emily M., Banks, Nile, Tomko, Patrick M., Sciarrillo, Christina M., Emerson, Sam R., Thomas, Emily B.K., Taylor, Ashlee, Teague, T. Kent and Jenkins, Nathaniel D.M. (2023) Progressive exercise training improves cardiovascular psychophysiological outcomes in young adult women with a history of adverse childhood experiences. Journal of applied physiology, 134 (3). pp. 742-752. ISSN 8750-7587

    Abstract

    Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are early-life psychosocial stressors that are associated with poorer mental health and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in a dose-dependent manner. We examined the feasibility of an 8-wk combined aerobic and resistance exercise training program to improve systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum endothelin-1 (ET-1), resilience, hope agency, and hope pathways in young women with ACEs. Forty-two healthy women (21 ± 3 yr) with ≥4 (ACE+; n = 28) or 0 ACEs (ACE−; n = 14) participated in this study. Women with ACEs were randomly assigned to an exercise (ACE+ EXT ; n = 14) or nonexercise control (ACE+ CON ; n = 14) group, whereas all ACE− participants were assigned to a nonexercise control ( n = 14) group. Hope agency and DBP did not change in any group ( P ≥ 0.43), but hope pathways improved only in ACE+ EXT (means ± SE change; +1.6 ± 0.74 au, P = 0.032, Hedges’ g = 0.53). ET-1 decreased in ACE+ EXT only (−0.31 ± 0.15 pg/mL, P = 0.043, g = 0.46). Although the interactions for resilience and SBP did not reach significance ( P = 0.05–0.06), forced post hoc analyses indicated that resilience improved (+4.9 ± 1.9 au, P = 0.012, g = 0.64) and SBP tended to improve (−4.0 ± 2.0 mmHg, P = 0.053, g = 0.51) in ACE+ EXT only. There were significant associations between changes in hope pathways and SBP (ρ = −0.43, P = 0.023) and ET-1 (ρ = −0.53, P = 0.005), and between changes in SBP and ET-1 (ρ = 0.49; P = 0.012) in the ACE+ group. In summary, structured exercise training reduces serum ET-1 levels, improves positive psychological coping, and may improve SBP in young women with ACEs. The relationships among the changes in hope pathways, SBP, and ET-1 suggest a cardiovascular psychophysiological relationship in young women with ACEs. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This randomized controlled pilot trial shows, for the first time, that 8 wk of structured, progressive exercise training lowers serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) and improves positive psychological coping in young women with significant early-life psychosocial stress. Furthermore, the observed associations among changes in psychological attributes, ET-1, and systolic blood pressure signify a potential interplay between positive psychology and cardiovascular disease risk among women with adverse childhood experiences.
    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: early life adversity; exercise intervention; heart disease; hemodynamic; trauma;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Science and Engineering > Sports Science and Nutrition
    Item ID: 20730
    Identification Number: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00524.2022
    Depositing User: Nile Banks
    Date Deposited: 21 Oct 2025 15:52
    Journal or Publication Title: Journal of applied physiology
    Publisher: American Physiological Society
    Refereed: Yes
    Related URLs:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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