Social relationships and health: Is feeling positive, negative, or both (ambivalent) about your social ties related to telomeres?

Abstract

Objective The quality of one’s personal relationships has been linked to morbidity and mortality across different diseases. As a result, it is important to examine more integrative mechanisms that might link relationships across diverse physical health outcomes. In this study, we examine associations between relationships and telomeres which predict general disease risk. These questions are pursued in the context of a more comprehensive model of relationships that highlights the importance of jointly considering positive and negative aspects of social ties. Method 136 individuals from a community sample (ages 48 to 77) completed the social relationships index which allows a determination of relationships that differ in their positive and negative substrates (i.e., ambivalent, supportive, aversive, indifferent). Telomere length was determined from peripheral blood mononuclear cells via quantitative PCR. Results Participants who had a higher number of ambivalent ties in their social networks evidenced shorter telomeres. These results were independent of other relationships types (e.g., supportive), as well as standard control variables (e.g., age, health behaviors, medication use). Gender moderated the links between ambivalent ties and telomere length with these associations seen primarily in women. Follow-up analyses revealed that the links between ambivalent ties and telomeres were primarily due to friendships, parents, and social acquaintances. Conclusions Consistent with epidemiological findings, these data highlight a novel and integrative biological mechanism by which social ties may impact health across diseases, and further suggests the importance of incorporating both positivity and negativity in the study of specific relationships and physical health.

Shorter telomeres with high telomerase activity are associated with raised allostatic load and impoverished psychosocial resources

“…Shorter TL is correlated with negative psychological characteristics, such as pessimism, distress, and hostility (16)(17)(18), although results have not all been consistent (19). By contrast, potentially protective psychosocial factors, such as optimism, social support, and greater educational attainment, have been linked with longer telomeres (20)(21)(22)(23).…”

Positive Psychiatry

“…60 Several studies reported direct associations of engagement in pleasant events with mental and physical health, 61;62 including reduced plasma concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers and lower catecholamine response to stress. 63 …”

Why So Difficult? Exploring Negative Relationships between Educational Leaders: The Role of Trust, Climate, and Efficacy

“…While most educational research in this area supports the notion of strong, positive relationships in support of successful reform implementation, recent work also suggests that negative relationships characterized by behavior such as avoidance and gossip may adversely impact such efforts, perhaps even overshadowing the effects of positive ties (Uchino et al 2012). Coupled with the accountability context and negative dispositions toward continuous reforms in education, difficult relationships will likely continue within the landscape of education and may, in fact, increase with additional large-scale change efforts underway (e.g., Common Core state standards).…”

“…This work suggests that maladaptive relationships (e.g., gossip and maltreatment) have negative effects on organizational and relational outcomes (Ellwardt et al 2012;Grosser et al 2010). Moreover, this literature suggests that such negative relationships may, in fact, overshadow the effects of positive ties (Padgett et al 2008;Uchino et al 2012). In this study we examine a particular subset of negative ties, that of "difficult professional relationships," in which actors have difficulty communicating and coming to mutual understanding.…”

“…We argue that this oversight is significant as a number of studies suggest that negative relations (e.g., gossip, avoidance) are consequential inhibitors to the exchange of resources and efforts for overall organizational change (Uzzi and Dunlap 2012;Violino 2012). In fact, some scholars outside of education have gone so far as to argue that negative or challenging relationships may be even more consequential for outcomes, outweighing the effects of positive ties (Labianca and Brass 2006;Padgett et al 2008;Uchino et al 2012;Yap and Harrigan 2015). However, empirical study of negative relationships among educators in general, and leaders in particular, is lacking.…”