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The Longitudinal Association of Social Relationship Characteristics With Circulating Markers of Inflammation and Potential Mechanisms in Healthy Older Adults

Bajaj-Mahajan, Amoha (2019) The Longitudinal Association of Social Relationship Characteristics With Circulating Markers of Inflammation and Potential Mechanisms in Healthy Older Adults. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

A large body of literature has established an association of social relationship characteristics with premature mortality and recent evidence suggests that systemic inflammation may mediate this association. However, the literature examining the link between social relationships and inflammation using healthy samples is limited by 1) the use of cross-sectional designs, 2) few methodologically rigorous longitudinal studies, 3) cursory measures of social relationships, and 4) failure to explore mechanisms accounting for any significant effects. To address these limitations, the current study used growth curve modeling to test the prospective association of perceived support, social integration, and marital satisfaction with the rate of change of inflammatory biomarkers, CRP and IL-6 in healthy, older adults. In the case of any significant effects, the study planned to test interpersonal (i.e. social interactions), affective (i.e. positive/negative affect), and behavioral (i.e. obesity, smoking, sleep duration) variables as mechanisms of overall effects using mediation analyses. Questionnaire measures of social integration, perceived social support, and marital satisfaction were collected at baseline, inflammatory biomarkers and health behaviors (with the exception of sleep duration) were measured at all 3 time-points, and social interaction characteristics and affect were measured using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) at baseline and 6-year follow up. Results showed no significant prospective association of social integration, perceived support, or marital quality with the rate of change in IL-6 and CRP over a 6-year period. Additionally, perceived social support did not buffer the deleterious effect of chronic stress on the longitudinal changes in these biomarkers. Given lack of direct effects, longitudinal mediation analyses were not pursued. Exploratory analyses testing social interactions as independent predictors of the longitudinal changes in IL-6 and CRP showed that higher frequency of negative interactions with a spouse in daily life was associated with higher initial levels of IL-6, adding to the body of work examining the link between marital quality and inflammation. The non-significant prospective associations in the main analyses may, in large part, be due to the lack of power in the current study, as well as due to homogeneity in social behavior and health characteristics in this sample.


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Details

Item Type: University of Pittsburgh ETD
Status: Unpublished
Creators/Authors:
CreatorsEmailPitt UsernameORCID
Bajaj-Mahajan, Amohaamb311@pitt.eduamb311
ETD Committee:
TitleMemberEmail AddressPitt UsernameORCID
Committee ChairKamarck, Thomastkam@pitt.edu
Committee MemberMarsland, Annamarsland@pitt.edu
Committee MemberWright, Aidanaidan@pitt.edu
Committee MemberForest, Amandaforest@pitt.edu
Committee MemberCohen, Sheldonscohen@cmu.edu
Date: 24 September 2019
Date Type: Publication
Defense Date: 12 June 2018
Approval Date: 24 September 2019
Submission Date: 22 August 2018
Access Restriction: No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately.
Number of Pages: 160
Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Schools and Programs: Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > Psychology
Degree: PhD - Doctor of Philosophy
Thesis Type: Doctoral Dissertation
Refereed: Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords: Social Relationships Inflammation
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2019 20:07
Last Modified: 24 Sep 2019 20:07
URI: http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/35247

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  • The Longitudinal Association of Social Relationship Characteristics With Circulating Markers of Inflammation and Potential Mechanisms in Healthy Older Adults. (deposited 24 Sep 2019 20:07) [Currently Displayed]

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