Social Support and Physical Health: Models, Mechanisms, and Opportunities

Uchino, Bert N.; Bowen, Kimberly; Grey, Robert Kent de; Mikel, Jude; Fisher, Edwin B.

doi:10.1007/978-0-387-93826-4_12

Cited by 223 publications

(106 citation statements)

References 247 publications

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“…Literature reviews frequently note the limitations and liabilities of supportive relationships in times of coping with stressors, but generally conclude that social support is universally beneficial to psychological well‐being and physical health (Holt‐Lunstad, Smith, and Layton, ; Kumar et al, ; Uchino et al, ). The vast majority of studies that have provided evidence for such conclusions were based on two dominant theoretical formulations: the stress buffer (interactive) model; and the main effect (additive) model (Cohen, Underwood, and Gottlieb, ).…”

Section: Social Support Processes In Disasters: a Compilation Of Thementioning

confidence: 99%

A scoping review of post‐disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent

et al. 2019

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This scoping review provides a summary of research findings on social support dynamics in the wake of disasters that occurred on the continent of Australia and Oceania between 1983 and 2013. Forty‐one studies, quantitative and qualitative, were summarised, investigating different facets of post‐disaster supportive interactions. All inquiries assessed disasters resulting from natural hazards, with the majority of them conducted following events in Australia and New Zealand. The review revealed similar patterns of post‐disaster social support dynamics that routinely unfold after disastrous incidents all over the world. Consistent with the disaster mental health literature, the documentation of social support mobilisation and social support deterioration processes was common. Salutary direct effects of supportive behaviours on post‐disaster psychological distress were also highly evident. Most studies, however, posed research questions or hypotheses that lacked empirical or theoretical grounding. In conclusion, the review offers several recommendations on how to advance research on post‐disaster social support.

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Section: Social Support Processes In Disasters: a Compilation Of Thementioning

confidence: 99%

A scoping review of post‐disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent

et al. 2019

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“…Despite this literature, relatively little is known about protective psychosocial factors that may lessen or even prevent the negative effects of stress on biological aging pathways [18]. Having a higher quality marriage and greater availability of social support is associated with reduced physiological stress responses, including lower cardiovascular reactivity, cortisol reactivity and diurnal profiles, and susceptibility to viral infection and illness [20,21]. To date, however, studies of aging biology have focused mainly on protective factors in childhood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship closeness buffers the effects of perceived stress on transcriptomic indicators of cellular stress and biological aging marker p16INK4a

Rentscher

Carroll

Cole

et al. 2020

Aging

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Chronic stress can accelerate biological aging, offering one mechanism through which stress may increase agerelated disease risk. Chronic activation of the sympathoadrenal system increases cellular energy production, resulting in cell stress that can initiate cellular senescence, a permanent state of cell growth arrest. Our previous research linked psychosocial stress with increased expression of senescence marker p16 INK4a ; however, less is known about the role of protective psychosocial factors in biological aging. We examined relationship closeness (perceived interconnectedness with one's spouse) as a protective buffer of the effects of stress on expression of the p16 INK4a-encoding gene (CDKN2A) and transcription control pathways activated under cell stress. Seventy parents (Mage=43.2) completed interview-based and questionnaire measures of psychosocial stress and relationship closeness. Blood samples assessed CDKN2A expression and inferred activity of a prioriselected transcription factors Nrf2 and heat shock factors (HSFs) via genome-wide transcriptome profiling. Random intercept models adjusting for age, sex, and ethnicity/race revealed that perceived stress was associated with elevated CDKN2A expression for parents with low but not high closeness. Secondary bioinformatics analyses linked the interaction of perceived stress and relationship closeness to Nrf2 and HSF-1 activity. Findings identify relationship closeness as a protective factor that may buffer the impact of stress on cellular stress and senescence pathways. www.aging-us.com 2 AGING DNA damage, telomere shortening, cellular senescence, epigenetic modifications, and altered intercellular communication [1]. Age-associated biological changes may serve as mechanisms that contribute to the development of aging phenotypes and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer [2]. A growing literature suggests that chronic psychosocial stress can impact these biological aging pathways [3-5], offering one mechanism through which stress may increase age-related disease risk.

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“…Theorists from different perspectives have postulated that the impact of social isolation on health is mediated by impairments in social capital, 43 social control, 44 social identification, 45 and social support. 46 Furthermore, some evidence from randomized controlled trials, however, suggests that expanding the social connections of individuals, e.g., through befriending programs, may indeed improve different health outcomes. 47 Altogether, the literature on interventions to reduce loneliness and social isolation indicates that a policy focus on social connection is a cost-effective strategy for enhancing health at the population level due to the potential pay-offs in health care costs that would otherwise occur.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health. A rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social isolation and health

Morina

Kip

Hoppen

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: The imperative for physical distancing during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may deteriorate physical and mental health. We aimed at summarizing the strength of evidence in the published literature on the association of social isolation and loneliness with physical and mental health. Methods: We conducted a systematic search in April 2020 to identify meta-analyses using the Medline, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy included terms of social isolation, loneliness, living alone, and meta-analysis. Eligible meta-analyses needed to report any sort of association between an indicator of social isolation and any physical or mental health outcome. The findings were summarized in a narrative synthesis. Results: Twenty-five meta-analyses met our criteria, of which 10 focused on physical health and 15 on mental health outcomes. A total of more than 3 million individuals had participated in the 692 primary studies. The results suggest that social isolation is associated with chronic physical symptoms, frailty, coronary heart disease, malnutrition, hospital readmission, reduced vaccine uptake, early mortality, depression, social anxiety, psychosis, cognitive impairment in later life, and suicidal ideation. Conclusions: The existing evidence clearly indicates that social isolation is associated with a range of poor physical and mental health outcomes. A potential negative impact on these outcomes needs to be considered in future decisions on physical distancing measures.

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Social Support and Physical Health: Models, Mechanisms, and Opportunities

Cited by 223 publications

References 247 publications

A scoping review of post‐disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent

A scoping review of post‐disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent

Relationship closeness buffers the effects of perceived stress on transcriptomic indicators of cellular stress and biological aging marker p16INK4a

A potential impact of physical distancing on physical and mental health. A rapid narrative umbrella review of meta-analyses on the link between social isolation and health

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