From Infection to Anxiety
A Sequential Model Linking Latent Toxoplasmosis to Psychological Distress via Health and Stress
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21392213 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Jaroslav Flegr (0000-0002-0822-0126, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic, corresponding author), Ashkan Latifi (0000-0001-8725-2910, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic), Šárka Kaňková (0000-0002-3087-7538, Laboratory of Evolutionary Biology, Department of Philosophy and History of Sciences, Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Publication date | 2026-02-26 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/sjop.70085 |
| PMID | 41749506 |
| OpenAlex | W7131821681 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 55 |
Identifying the drivers of chronic stress is crucial for understanding its impact on mental health. Latent toxoplasmosis, a widespread parasitic infection, has been linked to various psychological changes. The Stress‐Coping Hypothesis proposes that at least some of these changes are consequences of chronic stress arising from the infection's negative impact on physical health, rather than direct parasitic manipulation. To test this mediational pathway, we surveyed 1768 individuals previously tested for toxoplasmosis or borreliosis, using the Perceived Stress Scale and the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory. As predicted, Toxoplasma ‐infected individuals reported significantly poorer physical health and higher levels of perceived stress and anxiety. Crucially, path analysis revealed a clear sequential mechanism: toxoplasmosis was directly associated only with poorer physical health, which in turn predicted higher perceived stress, which subsequently predicted increased anxiety. This specific, stress‐mediated pathway was absent in the control group of individuals with borreliosis, providing strong evidence that the psychological effects of this common infection are side effects of illness‐induced chronic stress. These findings offer a mechanistic model of how a chronic physical health burden translates into significant psychological distress and highlight the importance of considering latent infections as a contributor to the global burden of stress‐related disorders
Anxiety · Chronic disease · Distress · Latent class model · Mental health · Psychological distress · Psychological stress · Toxoplasmosis · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Toxoplasma gondii Research Studies · Tryptophan and brain disorders
Brave men and timid women? A review of the gender differences in fear and anxiety
Gender differences in stress and coping styles
The development of a six‐item short‐form of the state scale of the Spielberger State—Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Negative Effects of Latent Toxoplasmosis on Mental Health
Natural stress relief meditation as a tool for reducing anxiety and increasing self-actualization
A Global Measure of Perceived Stress
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |