Social Relationships and Hypertension in Late Life

Abstract

Objectives Social relationships are widely understood to be important for sustaining and improving health and longevity, but it remains unclear how different dimensions of social relationships operate through similar or distinct mechanisms to affect biophysiological markers of aging-related disease over time. Methods This study utilized longitudinal data on a nationally representative sample of older adults from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (2005 – 2011) to examine the prospective associations between social integration and social support and change in systolic blood pressure and hypertension risk over time. Results While both social relationship dimensions have significant physiological impacts, their relative importance differs by outcome. Low social support was predictive of increase in systolic blood pressure, while low social integration was predictive of increase in risk of hypertension. Discussion The different roles of relationship characteristics in predicting change in physiological outcomes suggest specific biophysiological stress response and behavioral mechanisms that have important implications for both scientific understandings and effective prevention and control of a leading chronic condition in late life.

Associations between loneliness and perceived social support and outcomes of mental health problems: a systematic review

“…For instance, two meta-analytic reviews have reported that loneliness and poor social support are associated with higher mortality rates, and that the effect is comparable with some well-established risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking [ 5 , 6 ]. They are also predictive of development of coronary heart disease and stroke [ 7 ], increases in systolic blood pressure [ 8 , 9 ], and chronic pain [ 10 , 11 ] in longitudinal studies. The effect of loneliness on physical health may be via biological, psychological and/or behavioural mechanisms, including physiological functioning, neuroendocrine effects, gene effects, immune functioning, perception of stressful events, health behaviours and sleep quality [ 2 , 12 , 13 ].…”

Family Involvement in the Treatment of Hypertensive Patients using Dunn’s Health Grid: A Multiple Case Study

“…The relationship of both types of support is significant to one's health condition. As previous study, structural social support through social connectivity and the number of social ties is a necessary condition for improving health, because without social connections the functional aspect of social support is impossible (Y. C. Yang et al, 2015). However, above the presence of social connections, the functional dimensions of social support are also important, as our results indicate that part of the beneficial effect of having a social connection operates through how this relationship improves physiological functions and disease risks such as hypertension.…”

“…Psychological, information, and instrumental support done daily are very helpful for the patient's own self and can also maintain self-esteem, sense of importance for others, and the perceived control over minor or impending obstacles and thus indirectly maintaining psychological wellbeing and (through positive influences) physical well-being as well (Thoits, 2011) Psychological and social aspects have a significant impact on the condition of hypertensive patients. Longitudinal studies revealed that people with higher levels of support had lower systolic blood pressure than those with lower support levels (Y. C. Yang, Boen, & Mullan Harris, 2015). Moreover, those with greater social support reported significantly lower perceived stress levels and depressive symptoms than those with less social support.…”

Reflexiones en torno al estrés y su relación con la enfermedad cardiovascular

“…Así mismo, es importante tener presente las diferencias entre las personas a nivel de metas, visión de sí mismo y los otros, así como los recursos personales, en las que se basan sus expectativas de resultado (Lazarus, 1999). Esto sin dejar de lado aspectos personales que tocan también la dimensión interpersonal, como el apoyo social ( Yang, Boen, y Mullan Harris, 2015).…”