This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by McDade, T. W. Articles by Cacioppo, J. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by McDade, T. W. Articles by Cacioppo, J. T. Related Collections Social Class Aging Immunology Stress and Coping Coronary Artery Disease

Psychosocial and Behavioral Predictors of Inflammation in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: The Chicago Health, Aging, and Social Relations Study

From the Department of Anthropology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (T.W.M.); Cells to Society (C2S): Center on Social Disparities and Health, Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois (T.W.M.); Chicago Center for Cognitive and Social Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (L.C.H., J.T.C.); Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (L.C.H., J.T.C.).

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Thomas McDade, PhD, Northwestern University, Department of Anthropology, 1810 Hinman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60208-1310. E-mail: t-mcdade{at}northwestern.edu

Objective: C-reactive protein (CRP) is emerging as an important predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and chronic inflammation may be a mechanism through which stress affects disease risk. We investigated the contribution of behavioral and psychosocial factors to variation in CRP concentrations in a population-based sample of middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: A high sensitivity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) validated for use with dried blood spot samples was used to determine CRP concentrations in a representative sample of 188 52- to 70-year-olds. Demographic (gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status), anthropometric (height, weight, waist circumference, percent body fat), behavioral (alcohol consumption, smoking, sleep quality, dietary quality), and psychosocial data (perceived stress, chronic stress, depressive symptoms, loneliness, perceived social support) were collected on the same day as blood samples. Psychosocial variables collected the year before were also used to investigate the impact of changing psychosocial environments. Log-transformed CRP concentrations were examined in a series of nested multivariate regression models.

Results: African American and female participants were found to have higher CRP concentrations, as did individuals with lower levels of education. However, ethnic differences disappeared after the addition of behavioral and psychosocial variables. Waist circumference, latency to sleep, smoking, and perceived stress were independently associated with increased concentrations of CRP.

Conclusions: Psychosocial stress, as well as health behaviors, are important predictors of inflammatory activity in a population-based sample and should be considered in future research on inflammation and CVD.

Key Words: C-reactive protein • perceived stress • inflammation • psychoimmunology • cardiovascular disease

Abbreviations: BMI = body mass index; CRP = C-reactive protein; CVD = cardiovascular disease; ISEL = Interpersonal Support Evaluation List; PSS = Perceived Stress Scale.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				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]

				K. Karelina, G. J. Norman, N. Zhang, J. S. Morris, H. Peng, and A. C. DeVries Social isolation alters neuroinflammatory response to stroke PNAS, April 7, 2009; 106(14): 5895 - 5900. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Fuligni, E. H. Telzer, J. Bower, S. W. Cole, L. Kiang, and M. R. Irwin A Preliminary Study of Daily Interpersonal Stress and C-Reactive Protein Levels Among Adolescents From Latin American and European Backgrounds Psychosom Med, April 1, 2009; 71(3): 329 - 333. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Howren, D. M. Lamkin, and J. Suls Associations of Depression With C-Reactive Protein, IL-1, and IL-6: A Meta-Analysis Psychosom Med, February 1, 2009; 71(2): 171 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D Gimeno, J E Ferrie, M Elovainio, L Pulkki-Raback, L Keltikangas-Jarvinen, C Eklund, M Hurme, T Lehtimaki, J Marniemi, J S A Viikari, et al. When do social inequalities in C-reactive protein start? A life course perspective from conception to adulthood in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study Int. J. Epidemiol., April 1, 2008; 37(2): 290 - 298. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. B. Dowd, M. N. Haan, L. Blythe, K. Moore, and A. E. Aiello Socioeconomic Gradients in Immune Response to Latent Infection Am. J. Epidemiol., January 1, 2008; 167(1): 112 - 120. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Liukkonen, P. Rasanen, A. Ruokonen, J. Laitinen, J. Jokelainen, M. Leinonen, V. B. Meyer-Rochow, and M. Timonen C-reactive protein Levels and Sleep Disturbances: Observations Based on The Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Study Psychosom Med, October 1, 2007; 69(8): 756 - 761. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]