| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
ORIGINAL ARTICLES |
From the Division of Geriatrics (T.E.S., L.L.-S.), School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Office of Population Research (B.H.S.), Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey; and Department of Psychology (C.D.R.) and Institute on Aging (C.D.R., G.D.L.), University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin.
Address reprint requests to: Dr. Teresa Seeman, Division of Geriatrics, UCLA School of Medicine, 10945 Le Conte Ave., Suite 2339, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1687. Email: tseeman{at}mednet.ucla.edu
OBJECTIVE: This article addresses the question of biological pathways through which social integration and support may affect morbidity and mortality risks. A new concept of cumulative biological risk, allostatic load, is used to test the hypothesis that social experiences affect a range of biological systems. Data from two community-based cohorts are examined to evaluate the consistency of findings across two different age groups.
METHODS: One cohort included older adults aged 70 to 79 years (N = 765); the other cohort included persons aged 58 to 59 years (N = 106). Allostatic load was assessed using identical protocols in the two cohorts. Measures of social experience were similar but not identical, reflecting levels of social integration and support for the older cohort vs. childhood and adult experiences of loving/caring relationships with parents and spouse for the younger cohort. Gender-specific analyses were examined to evaluate possible gender differences in patterns of association.
RESULTS: In the younger cohort, positive cumulative relationship experiences were associated with lower allostatic load for men and women. In the older cohort, men who were more socially integrated and those reporting more frequent emotional support from others had lower allostatic load scores; similar but nonsignificant associations were seen for women.
CONCLUSIONS: Evidence from two cohorts provides support for the hypothesis that positive social experiences are associated with lower allostatic load. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that social experiences affect a range of biological systems, resulting in cumulative differences in risks that in turn may affect a range of health outcomes.
Key Words: social ties, • social relationships, • social support, • allostatic load, • biology.
Abbreviations: AL = allostatic load;; ANOVA = analysis of variance;; BP = blood pressure;; DHEA-S = dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate;; HDL = high-density lipoprotein;; HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis;; MAC = MacArthur Studies of Successful Aging;; PAIR = Personal Assessment of Intimacy Relationships Inventory;; SNS = sympathetic nervous system;; WLS = Wisconsin Longitudinal Study.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  Y. Aihara, J. Minai, Y. Kikuchi, A. Aoyama, and S. Shimanouchi Cognition of Social Capital in Older Japanese Men and Women J Aging Health, December 1, 2009; 21(8): 1083 - 1097. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. R. Williams, G. Pham-Kanter, and S. A. Leitsch Measures of Chronic Conditions and Diseases Associated With Aging in the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, November 1, 2009; 64B(suppl_1): i67 - i75. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. A. Sbarra Marriage Protects Men from Clinically Meaningful Elevations in C-Reactive Protein: Results from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) Psychosom Med, October 1, 2009; 71(8): 828 - 835. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
E. M. Maloney, R. Boneva, U. M. Nater, and W. C. Reeves Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and High Allostatic Load: Results From a Population-Based Case-Control Study in Georgia Psychosom Med, June 1, 2009; 71(5): 549 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S.L. Szanton, J.K. Allen, C.L. Seplaki, K. Bandeen-Roche, and L.P. Fried Allostatic Load and Frailty in the Women's Health and Aging Studies Biol Res Nurs, January 1, 2009; 10(3): 248 - 256. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. D. Kasper, M. E. Ensminger, K. M. Green, K. E. Fothergill, H.-S. Juon, J. Robertson, and R. J. Thorpe Effects of Poverty and Family Stress Over Three Decades on the Functional Status of Older African American Women J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., July 1, 2008; 63(4): S201 - S210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. W. Evans, E. Wethington, M. Coleman, M. Worms, and E. A. Frongillo Income Health Inequalities Among Older Persons: The Mediating Role of Multiple Risk Exposures J Aging Health, February 1, 2008; 20(1): 107 - 125. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. A. Glei, N. Goldman, Y.-L. Chuang, and M. Weinstein Do Chronic Stressors Lead to Physiological Dysregulation? Testing the Theory of Allostatic Load Psychosom Med, October 1, 2007; 69(8): 769 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 B. S. McEwen Physiology and Neurobiology of Stress and Adaptation: Central Role of the Brain Physiol Rev, July 1, 2007; 87(3): 873 - 904. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 E. M. Crimmins, J. K. Kim, D. E. Alley, A. Karlamangla, and T. Seeman Hispanic Paradox in Biological Risk Profiles Am J Public Health, July 1, 2007; 97(7): 1305 - 1310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Maselko, L. Kubzansky, I. Kawachi, T. Seeman, and L. Berkman Religious Service Attendance and Allostatic Load Among High-Functioning Elderly Psychosom Med, June 1, 2007; 69(5): 464 - 472. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Levy-Storms and J. E. Lubben Network Composition and Health Behaviors Among Older Samoan Women J Aging Health, December 1, 2006; 18(6): 814 - 836. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 C. F. Garfield, E. Clark-Kauffman, and M. M. Davis Fatherhood as a Component of Men's Health. JAMA, November 15, 2006; 296(19): 2365 - 2368. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Avlund, T. Rantanen, and M. Schroll Tiredness and Subsequent Disability in Older Adults: The Role of Walking Limitations J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., November 1, 2006; 61(11): 1201 - 1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Lindfors, O. Lundberg, and U. Lundberg Allostatic load and clinical risk as related to sense of coherence in middle-aged women. Psychosom Med, September 1, 2006; 68(5): 801 - 807. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. Lubben, E. Blozik, G. Gillmann, S. Iliffe, W. von Renteln Kruse, J. C. Beck, and A. E. Stuck Performance of an abbreviated version of the lubben social network scale among three European community-dwelling older adult populations. Gerontologist, August 1, 2006; 46(4): 503 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. T. Geronimus, M. Hicken, D. Keene, and J. Bound "Weathering" and Age Patterns of Allostatic Load Scores Among Blacks and Whites in the United States Am J Public Health, May 1, 2006; 96(5): 826 - 833. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. P. Rieker and C. E. Bird Rethinking Gender Differences in Health: Why We Need to Integrate Social and Biological Perspectives J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., October 1, 2005; 60(suppl_Special_Issue_2): S40 - S47. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. L. Szanton, J. M. Gill, and J. K. Allen Allostatic Load: A Mechanism of Socioeconomic Health Disparities? Biol Res Nurs, July 1, 2005; 7(1): 7 - 15. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. D. Ryff and B. H. Singer Social Environments and the Genetics of Aging: Advancing Knowledge of Protective Health Mechanisms J. Gerontol. B. Psychol. Sci. Soc. Sci., March 1, 2005; 60(suppl_Special_Issue_1): 12 - 23. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. F. Berkman, M. Melchior, J.-F. Chastang, I. Niedhammer, A. Leclerc, and M. Goldberg Social Integration and Mortality: A Prospective Study of French Employees of Electricity of France-Gas of France: The GAZEL Cohort Am. J. Epidemiol., January 15, 2004; 159(2): 167 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J. B. Silk, S. C. Alberts, and J. Altmann Social Bonds of Female Baboons Enhance Infant Survival Science, November 14, 2003; 302(5648): 1231 - 1234. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. B. Tate, L. Lah, and T. E. Cuddy Definition of Successful Aging by Elderly Canadian Males: The Manitoba Follow-Up Study Gerontologist, October 1, 2003; 43(5): 735 - 744. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. G. Ory and M. Chesney Aging and the Life-Course: Advancing Psychosomatic Medicine Research Psychosom Med, May 1, 2002; 64(3): 367 - 369. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
