In short, yes, load peaks destroy a chain faster than smooth running.
So does bad alignment, insufficient lubrication, debris between the gliding surfaces.
The long version (sorry for lecturing):
As far as I understand, chain wear is not linear (like a brake-pad), but increasing exponentially. Small locations of wear widen over time, non-worn surfaces get smaller and smaller and at some point it cascades. Generally wear is accellerated by high mechanic stresses like high torque (dragster racing style starts but in our case also high regeneration). A badly aligned chain wears faster as the load is not distributed evenly but concentrated on one side.
The job of the lube is to hinder the direct contact of the gliding surfaces. Otherwise, if they rub against each other, there is microwelding and tearing, destroying the surface. But lubes are degrading under mechanical and thermal stress (cracking of molecules). Or the lube is diluted by solvents (chain cleaner). Or hydrolysed by water ingress.
That's why I found the Regina HPE so appealing, they are marketing these chain with the claim of a special surface coating that makes wet lubrication nearly unnecessary. From my job Iknow glide bearings made of PTFE or special bronze for industrial applications which are running fine, so I regarded this claim as valid.
How does your rear tyre look right now? I think the wear of the rear tyre should tell quite well how your riding style is. It sounds logic: If the tyre is worn early, normally the chain should be worn as well. I am getting more than 11,000 km out of my tyre (Pirelli DR III), from that you can deduct that I am far away from being a serious racer.