TY - JOUR
T1 - Relationships and Inflammation across the Lifespan
T2 - Social Developmental Pathways to Disease
AU - Fagundes, Christopher P.
AU - Bennett, Jeanette M.
AU - Derry, Heather M.
AU - Kiecolt-Glaser, Janice K.
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - There are well documented links between close relationships and physical health, such that those who have supportive close relationships have lower rates of morbidity and mortality compared to those who do not. Inflammation is one mechanism that may help to explain this link. Chronically high levels of inflammation predict disease. Across the lifespan, people who have supportive close relationships have lower levels of systemic inflammation compared to people who have cold, unsupportive, and conflict-ridden relationships. Not only are current relationships associated with inflammation, but past relationships are as well. In this article, we will first review the literature linking current close relationships across the lifespan to inflammation. We will then explore recent work showing troubled past relationships also have lasting consequences for people's inflammatory levels. Finally, we will explore developmental pathways that may explain these findings.
AB - There are well documented links between close relationships and physical health, such that those who have supportive close relationships have lower rates of morbidity and mortality compared to those who do not. Inflammation is one mechanism that may help to explain this link. Chronically high levels of inflammation predict disease. Across the lifespan, people who have supportive close relationships have lower levels of systemic inflammation compared to people who have cold, unsupportive, and conflict-ridden relationships. Not only are current relationships associated with inflammation, but past relationships are as well. In this article, we will first review the literature linking current close relationships across the lifespan to inflammation. We will then explore recent work showing troubled past relationships also have lasting consequences for people's inflammatory levels. Finally, we will explore developmental pathways that may explain these findings.
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00392.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2011.00392.x
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22125580
AN - SCOPUS:80155189719
SN - 1751-9004
VL - 5
SP - 891
EP - 903
JO - Social and Personality Psychology Compass
JF - Social and Personality Psychology Compass
IS - 11
ER -