Toward a Biology of Social Support

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily D. Hooker ◽  
Peggy M. Zoccola ◽  
Sally S. Dickerson
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Endogenous Opioids ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Wide Range

The presence of close, supportive ties to others can have a wide range of positive effects on health; certain biological processes may play a key role in linking positive social relationships to salubrious health outcomes. In this chapter, we review the research that connects the presence of strong, supportive social ties to positive physiological functioning, with an underlying emphasis on the implications for health and disease. Cross-sectional and prospective studies demonstrate that high levels of social integration and/or social support are associated with positive biological profiles (e.g., lower levels of neuroendocrine activity, better functioning of the immune system), whereas social isolation and loneliness can have detrimental effects on these parameters. Other research provides evidence for the stress-buffering hypothesis, which states that social support exerts beneficial effects via a downregulation of stress responses, including dampened sympathetic and neuroendocrine activity. Conversely, deficient social relationships or social conflict have been linked with negative biological profiles. Emerging animal and human research suggests that oxytocin and endogenous opioids may underlie some of these physiological and health effects. Further elucidating the pathways through which social support could influence health outcomes could subsequently be used to develop theoretically sound interventions to optimize physiological functioning and health.

Toward a Biology of Social Support

2009 ◽  
pp. 518-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sally S. Dickerson ◽  
Peggy M. Zoccola
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Endogenous Opioids ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Wide Range

The presence of close, supportive ties to others can have a wide range of positive effects on health; certain biological processes may play a key role in linking positive social relationships to salubrious health outcomes. In this chapter, we review the research that connects the presence of strong, supportive social ties to positive physiological functioning, with an underlying emphasis on the implications for health and disease. Cross-sectional and prospective studies demonstrate that high levels of social integration and/or social support are associated with positive biological profiles (e.g., lower levels of neuroendocrine activity, better functioning of the immune system), whereas social isolation and loneliness can have detrimental effects on these parameters. Other research provides evidence for the stress-buffering hypothesis; social support exerts beneficial effects via a downregulation of stress responses, including dampened sympathetic and neuroendocrine activity. Conversely, deficient social relationships or social conflict has been linked with negative biological profiles. Emerging animal and human research suggests that oxytocin and endogenous opioids may underlie some of these physiological and health effects. Further elucidating the pathways through which social support could influence health outcomes could subsequently be used to develop theoretically sound interventions to optimize physiological functioning and health.

scholarly journals Association between social support and quality of life of relative caregivers of elderly dependents

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1321-1330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla Ferraz dos Anjos ◽  
Rita Narriman Silva de Oliveira Boery ◽  
Rafael Pereira ◽  
Larissa Chaves Pedreira ◽  
Alba Benemérita Alves Vilela ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Relative Caregivers ◽  
The Social

Objective: to ascertain the association between the social support and the quality of life of relative caregivers of elderly dependents at home.Method: a cross-sectional study conducted with 58 relative caregivers of elderly dependents, registered in the Family Health Strategy. Data were collected from the Katz instrument, sociodemographic, Zarit Burden Interview, WHOQOL-bref, and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression.Results: the majority of caregivers were women, who took care full-time and presented moderate to severe burden. Most caregivers are satisfied with their social relationships and the social support received. It is found that the burden and the time of care correlated with the social relationships domain, which is associated with social support, and consequently, reduced quality of life.Conclusion: social support for caregivers is important to prevent health implications, burden, biopsychosocial stress, and provide favorable conditions for quality of life, by allowing greater freedom to develop their daily activities.

Physical Activity, Physical Fitness, and Cognition

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Etnier
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Training Interventions ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Wide Range

There is substantial interest in identifying the behavioral means by which to improve cognitive performance. Recent research and commercial ventures have focused on cognitive training interventions, but evidence suggests that the effects of these programs are small and task-specific. Researchers have also shown interest in exploring the potential benefits of physical activity for cognitive performance. Because the effects of physical activity have been found to be small to moderate and to be more global in nature, interest in physical activity has been growing over the past several decades. Evidence regarding the efficacy of physical activity is provided through cross-sectional studies, longitudinal prospective studies, and randomized controlled trials. When reviewed meta-analytically, small-to-moderate beneficial effects are reported for children, adults, older adults, and cognitively impaired older adults, and these effects are evident for a wide range of cognitive domains, including executive function, memory, and information processing. Researchers are currently focused on identifying the mechanisms of these effects. Most of this research has been conducted using animal models, but there is a growing body of literature with humans. From this evidence, there is support for the role of changes in cerebral structure, hippocampal perfusion, and growth factors in explaining the observed benefits. Thus far, however, the literature is quite sparse, and future research is needed to clarify our understanding of the mechanisms that provide the causal link between physical activity and cognitive performance. Research is also focused on understanding how to increase the benefits by potentially combining cognitive training with physical activity and by identifying the genetic moderators of the effects. These lines of work are designed to elucidate ways of increasing the magnitude of the benefits that can be obtained. At this point in time, the evidence with respect to the potential of physical activity for benefiting cognitive performance is quite promising, but it is critical that funding agencies commit their support to the continued exploration necessary to allow us to ultimately be able to prescribe physical activity to specific individuals with the express purpose of improving cognition.

scholarly journals Expanding the Utility of Race-Based Accountability: An Application of RBA to Longitudinal Data Analyses

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-79
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Ruiz ◽  
Gabriel A. Acevedo ◽  
Raquel R. Marquez ◽  
Marcos Marquez
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Adult Mental Health

Despite the strong empirical evidence linking childhood abuse to negative mental health outcomes later in life, a number of questions remain regarding race variations in this association. Moreover, less is known about the salience of protective factors that can offset or ameliorate the negative effects of abuse on adult mental health, and whether these factors work differently by race. Using three waves of panel data from a nationally representative survey of American adults, the present study examined the long-term effects of childhood abuse on adult mental health over a span of 20 years. In addition, we assessed social support as a protective factor, and examined its differential effects on mental health outcomes for Whites and non-Whites. Results indicate that despite frequent childhood abuse, social support is associated with less depression for Whites—its positive effects being most pronounced for those with the most severe abuse experiences. However, social support is associated with worst depression for non-Whites—its negative effects being most pronounced for those with severe abuse experiences. These findings demonstrate that the factors commonly considered as protective and beneficial for adult victims of abuse work differently across racial groups and in fact, may be detrimental for non-Whites.

scholarly journals Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11028
Author(s):  
Phi-Yen Nguyen ◽  
Thomas Astell-Burt ◽  
Hania Rahimi-Ardabili ◽  
Xiaoqi Feng
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cohort Studies ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Tree Canopy ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range

(1) Background: As cities densify, researcher and policy focus is intensifying on which green space types and qualities are important for health. We conducted a systematic review to examine whether particular green space types and qualities have been shown to provide health benefits and if so, which specific types and qualities, and which health outcomes. (2) Methods: We searched five databases from inception up to June 30, 2021. We included all studies examining a wide range of green space characteristics on various health outcomes. (3) Results: 68 articles from 59 studies were found, with a high degree of heterogeneity in study designs, definitions of quality and outcomes. Most studies were cross-sectional, ecological or cohort studies. Environment types, vegetation types, and the size and connectivity of green spaces were associated with improved health outcomes, though with contingencies by age and gender. Health benefits were more consistently observed in areas with greater tree canopy, but not grassland. The main outcomes with evidence of health benefits included allergic respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions and psychological wellbeing. Both objectively and subjectively measured qualities demonstrated associations with health outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Experimental studies and longitudinal cohort studies will strengthen current evidence. Evidence was lacking for needs-specific or culturally-appropriate amenities and soundscape characteristics. Qualities that need more in-depth investigation include indices that account for forms, patterns, and networks of objectively and subjectively measured green space qualities.

scholarly journals Potential Implications of Quercetin and its Derivatives in Cardioprotection

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Ferenczyova ◽  
Barbora Kalocayova ◽  
Monika Bartekova
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Cardiac Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Wide Range

Quercetin (QCT) is a natural polyphenolic compound enriched in human food, mainly in vegetables, fruits and berries. QCT and its main derivatives, such as rhamnetin, rutin, hyperoside, etc., have been documented to possess many beneficial effects in the human body including their positive effects in the cardiovascular system. However, clinical implications of QCT and its derivatives are still rare. In the current paper we provide a complex picture of the most recent knowledge on the effects of QCT and its derivatives in different types of cardiac injury, mainly in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the heart, but also in other pathologies such as anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity or oxidative stress-induced cardiac injury, documented in in vitro and ex vivo, as well as in in vivo experimental models of cardiac injury. Moreover, we focus on cardiac effects of QCT in presence of metabolic comorbidities in addition to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Finally, we provide a short summary of clinical studies focused on cardiac effects of QCT. In general, it seems that QCT and its metabolites exert strong cardioprotective effects in a wide range of experimental models of cardiac injury, likely via their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and molecular pathways-modulating properties; however, ageing and presence of lifestyle-related comorbidities may confound their beneficial effects in heart disease. On the other hand, due to very limited number of clinical trials focused on cardiac effects of QCT and its derivatives, clinical data are inconclusive. Thus, additional well-designed human studies including a high enough number of patients testing different concentrations of QCT are needed to reveal real therapeutic potential of QCT in CVD. Finally, several negative or controversial effects of QCT in the heart have been reported, and this should be also taken into consideration in QCT-based approaches aimed to treat CVD in humans.

Can Group Exercise Programs Improve Health Outcomes in Pregnant Women? A Systematic Review

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-87
Author(s):  
Cristina Jorge ◽  
Rita Santos-Rocha ◽  
Teresa Bento
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Group Exercise ◽  
Exercise Programs ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pelvic Floor Training ◽  
Wide Range

Current scientific evidence supports the recommendation to initiate or continue the practice of physical exercise in healthy pregnant women. Group exercise programs have positive effects in improving health and well-being, as well as social support. In order to understand the scientific evidence in this field, and the outcomes in maternal health, it has generated wide interest in exploring the studies carried out with more relevant group exercise programs. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the available evidence on the effectiveness of group exercise programs in improving women’s and newborns health outcomes during pregnancy. Three databases were used to conduct literature searches and strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were employed. Seventeen studies were selected for analysis. All studies were randomized control trials conducted with pregnant women that evaluated the effect of group exercise programs on the health outcomes of mother and newborn. Most studies followed a supervised structured exercise program including a main aerobic part, resistance training, pelvic floor training and stretching and relaxation sections. The significant effects of the programs are related with improved maternal perception of health status, lower maternal weight gain, improved levels of maternal glucose tolerance, improved aerobic fitness and muscular strength, lower frequency of urinary incontinence, improved sick leave due to lumbopelvic pain, fewer cesarean and instrumental deliveries, higher newborn Apgar score and faster postpartum recovery. Exercise and health professionals should advise pregnant women that aerobic group exercise during pregnancy improves a wide range of health outcomes for the women and newborns.

Race, social pain minimization, and mental health

2021 ◽  
pp. 136843022110408
Author(s):  
Kyle L. Benbow ◽  
Brianna L. Smith ◽  
Karlee J. Tolbert ◽  
Jason C. Deska ◽  
Jonathan W. Kunstman
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Race Difference ◽  
Social Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Third Person ◽  
Initial Support

People often believe Black individuals experience less social pain and require less social support to cope with distress than White individuals (e.g., Deska, Kunstman, Lloyd, et al., 2020). However, researchers have not tested whether biases in third-person pain judgments translate to first-person experiences with social pain minimization. For example, do Black individuals feel their social pain is underrecognized to a greater extent than White individuals? The current work tested whether Black individuals felt their social pain was minimized more than White individuals and if the experience of social pain minimization was related to worse mental health and greater life stress. Data from two cross-sectional, correlational studies provide initial support for these predictions ( Ntotal = 1,501). Black participants felt their social pain was minimized more than White participants and this race difference in social pain minimization was associated with worse mental health and greater life stress. These results suggest that Black individuals feel their pain is underrecognized and this experience of social pain minimization is related to worse mental health outcomes.

scholarly journals Social support during childhood cancer treatment enhances quality of life at survival [El apoyo social durante el cáncer infantil favorece la calidad de vida en periodo de supervivencia]

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmina Castellano-Tejedor ◽  
Marta Pérez-Campdepadrós ◽  
Lluis Capdevila ◽  
Constantino Sábado-Álvarez ◽  
Tomás Blasco Blasco
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Support ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Coping Resources ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Health Providers ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
And Coping

<p><em>Background:<strong> </strong></em>Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cancer has been related to several protective and risk factors such as perceived social support (PSS) and coping. However, their effects on HRQoL once patients are in survivorship have not been fully described in pediatric samples.</p><p><em>Objective:</em> To describe and explore the relationship between HRQoL in survivorship and some factors (PSS, coping) present while active treatment.<strong></strong></p><p><em>Methods:</em> Cross-sectional study. Forty-one pediatric cancer survivors answered HRQoL measures referred to survivorship, as well as PSS and coping measures referred to treatment period.</p><p><em>Results:<strong> </strong></em>The discriminant function obtained succeeds to correctly classify 78% of the sample. Survivors who showed high HRQoL were those who, in the hardest moment while hospitalization, perceived satisfactory <em>emotional support</em> (from <em>nurses</em>) and did not deploy a wide range of active coping resources to cope with stressful events (only <em>social action</em> coping strategy showed a significant relationship with HRQoL).</p><p><em>Conclusions and implications:</em> Considering these outcomes, educational and counseling interventions to strengthen patients’ social networks and supportive relationships are recommended, specially, among health providers (nurses).<strong> </strong>These results highlight the importance of not overlooking opportunities to address the emotional needs of patients while hospitalization, since a positive and endurable effect has been observed at survivorship.</p><p> </p>

Compassionate Goals Predict Social Support and PTSD Symptoms Following a University Shooting: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oxana L. Stebbins ◽  
Jamie L. Tingey ◽  
Erin K. Verdi ◽  
Thane M. Erickson ◽  
Adam P. McGuire
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Moderated Mediation ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Stress Buffering ◽  
Compassionate Goals ◽  
Mass Shooting

Introduction: Social support is known to buffer posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, but the stress-buffering properties of striving to help and support others (compassionate goals) have received less attention. Recent research suggests that compassionate goals shape social support processes and dampen stress responses following social threat, but their relevance to trauma have not been examined. The present study tested whether, in the aftermath of a university mass shooting, compassionate goals concurrently and prospectively predicted lower PTSD symptoms indirectly via higher social support, and whether this mediation would be stronger with higher proximity to the trauma. Method: Participants (N = 369) completed measures four months post-shooting (Time 1), and a subset (n = 85) repeated outcome variables at eight months (Time 2). Results: As hypothesized, there was a significant moderated mediation, with trauma proximity moderating the indirect effect of compassionate goals on PTSD symptoms at Time 1 (B = −0.88, SE = 0.28, 95% CI [−1.47, −0.37]) and prospectively at Time 2 (B = −1.12, SE = 0.77, 95% CI [−3.16, −0.03]), although not when controlling for Time 1 symptoms. The indirect effects were greatest for those with higher trauma proximity, suggesting particular relevance for individuals most at risk for trauma-related difficulties. Discussion: These findings suggest the need for further research into compassionate goals and strategies for fostering them, particularly in the context of social or community traumas.

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