Social isolation and low social support are associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and death, presumably through the mechanism of cardiovascular and neuroendocrine reactivity to potential stressors. There is mounting evidence of an association between social support and psychophysiological responses, but the experimental studies have not examined support in the context of actual social network relationships, nor have they examined the likely moderating effects of trait hostility and relationship quality. Further, the role of stress reducing neuroendocrine bases of affiliation and attachment have not been examined in this context. The studies proposed will address these issues in married couples. Couples will complete one of three dyadic interaction tasks (supportive, neutral, or conflictual), followed by individual participation in a stressful speaking task. Concurrent effects of supportive and conflictual social interaction on blood pressure, catecholamine, cortisol and oxytocin responses will be examined, as will """"""""carry over"""""""" effects of social interaction on changes in these same variables during the subsequent stressful task. We predict that supportive interactions between spouses will be associated with decreased concurrent and subsequent cardiovascular, catecholamine, and cortisol responses, and that conflcitual interactions will heighten these responses. Further, we will examine changes in oxytocin as a possible mediator of these effects. We also expect that individual differences in trait hostility and prior relationship quality will moderate the concurrent and carryover effects of social interaction on these physiological responses. Study one will test the moderation of these effects across the age range of 18 to 50 years. Study two will compare these effects in Caucasians and African Americans. Explication of the psychobiology of social support and related psychosocial risk factors in personal relationships could guide the refinement of risk reducing, preventive interventions. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL068862-03
Application #
6920751
Study Section
Biobehavioral and Behavioral Processes 3 (BBBP)
Program Officer
Czajkowski, Susan
Project Start
2003-06-15
Project End
2007-05-31
Budget Start
2005-06-01
Budget End
2007-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$403,665
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112
Moore, Shannon M; Uchino, Bert N; Baucom, Brian R W et al. (2017) Attitude similarity and familiarity and their links to mental health: An examination of potential interpersonal mediators. J Soc Psychol 157:77-85
Cundiff, Jenny M; Uchino, Bert N; Smith, Timothy W et al. (2015) Socioeconomic status and health: education and income are independent and joint predictors of ambulatory blood pressure. J Behav Med 38:9-16
Bowen, Kimberly S; Uchino, Bert N; Birmingham, Wendy et al. (2014) The stress-buffering effects of functional social support on ambulatory blood pressure. Health Psychol 33:1440-3
Uchino, Bert N; Smith, Timothy W; Carlisle, McKenzie et al. (2013) The quality of spouses' social networks contributes to each other's cardiovascular risk. PLoS One 8:e71881
Bowen, Kimberly S; Birmingham, Wendy; Uchino, Bert N et al. (2013) Specific dimensions of perceived support and ambulatory blood pressure: which support functions appear most beneficial and for whom? Int J Psychophysiol 88:317-24
Uchino, Bert N; Sanbonmatsu, David M; Birmingham, Wendy (2013) Knowing your partner is not enough: spousal importance moderates the link between attitude familiarity and ambulatory blood pressure. J Behav Med 36:549-55
Smith, Timothy W; Uchino, Bert N; MacKenzie, Justin et al. (2013) Effects of couple interactions and relationship quality on plasma oxytocin and cardiovascular reactivity: empirical findings and methodological considerations. Int J Psychophysiol 88:271-81
Sanbonmatsu, David M; Uchino, Bert N; Birmingham, Wendy (2011) On the importance of knowing your partner's views: attitude familiarity is associated with better interpersonal functioning and lower ambulatory blood pressure in daily life. Ann Behav Med 41:131-7
Uchino, Bert N (2006) Social support and health: a review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes. J Behav Med 29:377-87
Uchino, Bert N; Berg, Cynthia A; Smith, Timothy W et al. (2006) Age-related differences in ambulatory blood pressure during daily stress: evidence for greater blood pressure reactivity with age. Psychol Aging 21:231-9

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