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Objective Little is known about inter-individual variation in psychological stress in modernizing rural populations in developing countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titer, a biomarker of psychological stress, and lifestyle parameters in rural communities in Hainan Island, China. Methods EBV antibody titer was measured in dried blood spot (DBS) samples collected from 240 adults living in rural communities in Hainan Island. Measures of two major lifestyle changes in rural areas of Hainan Island, i.e., diet and commercial goods possession, were examined by using information on the weekly frequency of pork consumption and monthly mobile phone fees. Both parameters were standardized to create two composite scores: a total affluence index (TAI-the sum of these scores), and an investment tendency index (ITI-the difference between them). Least-squares regression analysis was used to investigate the association between EBV antibody titer and these lifestyle parameters. Results A positive association was found between the frequency f pork consumption and EBV antibody titer ( P = 0.040), whereas a negative association was found between mobile phone fees and EBV antibody titer ( P = 0.028). A negative association was also observed between ITI and EBV antibody titer ( P = 0.002) after adjusting for the effect of TAI. Conclusion Psychological stress among local residents was linked to the type of lifestyle changes they had experienced, where the adoption of a more market-oriented lifestyle, irrespective of current affluence, was associated with less psychological stress. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:36-42, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibody titer has recently been used as a biomarker of psychological stress. This is the first study to investigate the association between EBV antibody titer and perceived quality of life (QOL) in Hainan Island, China. Methods Participants from two regions of Hainan Island, recruited into a larger study investigating the health impact of rapid economic development among rural residents, were stratified by age, sex, and region; 15 people were randomly selected from each of the 16 subgroups, to give a total sample size of 240. EBV antibody titer in dried blood spot samples was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The abbreviated version of the World Health Organization's Quality of Life questionnaire was used to gather information on six categories of QOL. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between EBV antibody titer and QOL. Results After adjusting for the effects of age, sex, region and C-reactive protein concentration, EBV antibody titer was negatively associated with the physical ( P = 0.044) and psychological QOL domains ( P = 0.039). Conclusion This study suggests that among individuals living in an environment in the initial stages of economic development EBV antibody titer, a biomarker of psychological stress, is not only associated with the psychological aspects of QOL but is also linked to physical problems. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:51-55, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]