1. 57. Anxiety about relationships is linked to alterations in cortisol production and cellular immunity
- Author
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Jaremka, L.M., Glaser, R., Loving, T.J., Malarkey, W.B., Stowell, J.R., and Kiecolt-Glaser, J.K.
- Subjects
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CELLULAR immunity , *ANXIETY , *HYDROCORTISONE , *BLOOD testing , *SALIVA analysis , *T cells - Abstract
Although evidence suggests that attachment anxiety may increase risk for health problems, the mechanisms are not well understood. Married couples (N =85, M age =38.67) provided saliva samples over three days and blood samples on two occasions. Participants with higher attachment anxiety produced more cortisol and had fewer numbers of CD45+ T cells, CD3+ T cells, CD3+CD4+ helper T cells, and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells than those with lower attachment anxiety. Higher cortisol was also related to fewer numbers of CD45+, CD3+, CD3+CD4+, and CD3+CD8+, which is mechanistically consistent with research showing that cortisol alters the cellular immune response. These data suggest that attachment anxiety may have physiological costs and provide a glimpse into the pathways through which social relationships impact health. The current study also extends attachment theory in an important new direction by utilizing a psychoneuroimmunological approach to the study of attachment anxiety, stress, and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
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