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Cited by 58Health disparities and outcomesBlood properties and coagulationAging and Gerontology Research

Social Integration Is Associated With Fibrinogen Concentration in Elderly Men

Loucks, Eric B., Berkman, Lisa F., Gruenewald, Tara L., Seeman, Teresa E.·2005·Psychosomatic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/01.psy.0000160482.89163.e8
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether social integration is associated with plasma concentrations of fibrinogen in an elderly population. METHODS: Participants (ages 70-79; n = 375 men and 425 women) were part of the MacArthur Successful Aging Study, a longitudinal study from three community-based cohorts in the United States, who have relatively high physical and cognitive functioning. Social integration was measured using a social integration score, which assessed marital status, number of contacts with family and friends, frequency of religious service attendance, and participation in voluntary organizations. Fibrinogen concentrations were measured in plasma using an automated clot-rate assay. Cross-sectional multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Social integration was significantly associated with elevated concentrations of fibrinogen (>336 mg/dL) in men after adjusting for smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, body mass index, comorbidity, physical functioning, depression, age, race, and education (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-4.89, p = .03 for having elevated fibrinogen in the least integrated quartile versus the most integrated quartile). There was no significant association between social integration and fibrinogen in women (multivariate-adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.27-1.21, p = .15). CONCLUSIONS: Social integration is associated with fibrinogen concentrations in elderly men. This provides evidence of a biologic mechanism that may help explain the observed associations between social integration and mortality in men. There may be gender differences in the physiological pathways by which social integration influences health.

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  • Of 16 cardiovascular function studies, 11 (69%) reported that R/S was significantly related to positive cardiovascular functions or outcomes or to lower levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.

    “Of those, 11 studies (69%) reported that R/S was significantly related to positive cardiovascular functions or outcomes [367–374] or to lower levels of inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein [375–377] and fibrinogen [378] that place individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease.”

    From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [371]

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Authors
Loucks, E. B., Berkman, L. F., Gruenewald, T. L., & Seeman, T. E.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Loucks, Eric B.
ORCID
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2005-05
Volume
67
Issue
3
Pages
353-358
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/01.psy.0000160482.89163.e8
OpenAlex
W2008384192
Cited by
58
References
33
Citations by year
2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ag017056-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG17265, P30AG017265, AG 17056)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Health › Health disparities and outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Blood properties and coagulation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
social integration, fibrinogen, older men, successful aging, gender differences, cardiovascular risk, marital status, religious service attendance, social networks
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Cross-Sectional Studies, Family Characteristics, Female, Fibrinogen, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Social Environment, Social Isolation, Social Support, Marital Status, Spirituality, Friends

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