Digital Stress Endocrine Disruption is a specific form of hormonal dysregulation resulting from the chronic physiological and psychological stressors inherent in a high-engagement digital lifestyle, encompassing factors like information overload, perpetual availability, and disrupted sleep-wake cycles. This disruption primarily manifests as a perturbation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to altered, often elevated, cortisol and catecholamine secretion patterns. It represents a modern, behaviorally-induced form of chronic stress impacting systemic hormonal balance.
Origin
This clinical term is a synthesis of stress endocrinology and contemporary behavioral science, emerging as clinicians recognized a pattern of hormonal imbalance distinctly linked to the demands of digital technology and social media engagement. The concept parallels the established understanding of environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals but focuses on the behavioral and light-mediated stressors unique to the digital age.
Mechanism
The constant novelty and cognitive demand activate the central stress response, triggering the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which drives the HPA axis. This chronic activation often results in a dysregulated diurnal cortisol curve, which can subsequently impair insulin sensitivity, suppress the pulsatile release of gonadal steroids, and interfere with nocturnal growth hormone secretion. The suppression of melatonin by late-night screen exposure further destabilizes the entire neuroendocrine rhythm, exacerbating the disruption.
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