TitleAffective reactivity to daily stressors is associated with elevated inflammation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsSin, NL, Graham-Engeland, JE, Ong, AD, Almeida, DM
JournalHealth Psychol
Volume34
Issue12
Pagination1154-65
Date Published2015 Dec
ISSN1930-7810
KeywordsAdult, Affect, Aged, Biomarkers, C-Reactive Protein, Chronic Disease, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Individuality, Inflammation, Interleukin-6, Male, Middle Aged, Sex Factors, Stress, Psychological, United States
Abstract

<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>Inflammation increases the risk of chronic diseases, but the links between emotional responses to daily events and inflammation are unknown. We examined individual differences in affective reactivity to daily stressors (i.e., changes in positive and negative affect in response to stressors) as predictors of inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP).</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>A cross-sectional sample of 872 adults from the National Study of Daily Experiences (substudy of Midlife in the United States II) reported daily stressors and affect during telephone interviews for 8 days. Blood samples were obtained at a separate clinic visit and assayed for inflammatory markers. Multilevel models estimated trait affective reactivity slopes for each participant, which were inputted into regression models to predict inflammation.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>People who experienced greater decreases in positive affect on days when stressors occurred (i.e., positive affect reactivity) had elevated log IL-6, independent of demographic, physical, psychological, and behavioral factors (B = 1.12, SE = 0.45, p = .01). Heightened negative affect reactivity was associated with higher log CRP among women (p = .03) but not men (p = .57); health behaviors accounted for this association in women.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>Adults who fail to maintain positive affect when faced with minor stressors in everyday life appear to have elevated levels of IL-6, a marker of inflammation. Women who experience increased negative affect when faced with minor stressors may be at particular risk of elevated inflammation. These findings add to growing evidence regarding the health implications of affective reactivity to daily stressors.</p>

DOI10.1037/hea0000240
Alternate JournalHealth Psychol
PubMed ID26030309
PubMed Central IDPMC4666844
Grant ListP01-AG020166 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
RR00865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR000427 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
F32AG048698 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
UL1 RR025011 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
1UL1RR025011 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
F32 AG048698 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR023942 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
UL1 TR001425 / TR / NCATS NIH HHS / United States
P01 AG020166 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG047154 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U19 AG051426 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
M01-RR023942 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States