Plasma interleukin-6 and soluble IL-6 receptors are associated with psychological well-being in aging women.
Abstract
Objective This study tested the hypothesis that psychological well-being would predict lower plasma levels of inflammatory factors in aging women. Design One hundred thirty-five women ages 61-91 years (M = 74.5 years) participated in this study. After completing self-administered questionnaires in their homes, participants stayed overnight at the General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Blood samples for cytokine analyses were obtained in participants' homes after the GCRC visit. Main outcome measures Psychological well-being and ill-being, history of health problems, and health behaviors were assessed via self-administered questionnaires. Detailed medical history and concurrent health measures were obtained during the GCRC stay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to determine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) concentrations in plasma. Results and conclusion Regression analyses showed that plasma IL-6 levels were lower in women scoring higher on positive relationships, whereas sIL-6R levels were lower in women scoring higher on purpose in life, even after a variety of sociodemographic and health factors were controlled. These outcomes, combined with the absence of significant links with other measures of well-being and ill-being, suggest selective patterns of association between later life inflammatory processes and psychological factors, particularly those focused on positive ties with others and purposef…
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Further work has linked purpose to better regulation of physiological systems (e.g., reduced inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk factors) as well as brain-based mechanisms (e.g., insular cortex volume, reduced amygdala activation, sustained ventral striatum activation).
“Further work has linked purpose to better regulation of physiological systems (e.g., reduced inflammatory markers and cardiovascular risk factors) as well as brain-based mechanisms (e.g., insular cortex volume, reduced amygdala activation, sustained ventral striatum activation) (22 -30).”
From Purpose in life and use of preventive health care services (2014) · cites this paper as [24]
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References 51 · Cited by 210
- Authors
- Friedman, E. M., Hayney, M., Love, G. D., Singer, B. H., & Ryff, C. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Princeton University (US)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 305-313
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W2149316839
- Cited by
- 210
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 2.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- National Institute on Aging (P01-AG020166)
- National Institute of Mental Health (P50-MH61083)
- National Institutes of Health (M01-RR03186)
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- interleukin-6, soluble IL-6 receptor, psychological well-being, older women, inflammation, positive relationships, meaning of life, older adults, cytokines, health behavior, health problems
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Personal Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, Interleukin-6
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