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Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

ABSTRACT: Background and Objectives:This cross-sectional study examines associations of social integration and daily discrimination with 4 biological markers of inflammation and cardiovascular health and tests whether self-esteem may mediate any of these effects. Research Design and Methods:Data came from 746 participants of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher (2011-2014) and MIDUS Refresher Biomarker Project (2012-2016). Structural equation modeling estimated direct and indirect associations of social integration and daily discrimination with glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6. Results:Social integration and daily discrimination were both significantly associated with self-esteem, which was in turn associated with HbA1c, HDL, and interleukin-6 levels. Social integration was indirectly associated with HbA1c, HDL, and interleukin-6 via self-esteem. Daily discrimination was directly associated with HbA1c, C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 and was indirectly associated with HDL and interleukin-6 via self-esteem. Discussion and Implications:Findings identify social correlates of inflammation and cardiovascular risk and suggest that self-esteem may serve as a pathway for effects. Overall, results were somewhat mixed: Daily discrimination was directly associated with both self-esteem and 3 of the 4 biological markers of health; however, although social integration was strongly associated with self-esteem, it was only weakly and indirectly associated with biological health markers. Moreover, the indirect effects of daily discrimination on the biomarker outcomes-while significant-were notably smaller than its direct effects. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed, including the need for further study of self-esteem and physical health across mid- and later life.

SUBMITTER: Stokes JE

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7413616 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

Stokes Jeffrey E JE

Innovation in aging 20200706 4

<h4>Background and objectives</h4>This cross-sectional study examines associations of social integration and daily discrimination with 4 biological markers of inflammation and cardiovascular health and tests whether self-esteem may mediate any of these effects.<h4>Research design and methods</h4>Data came from 746 participants of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher (2011-2014) and MIDUS Refresher Biomarker Project (2012-2016). Structural equation mod ...[more]

PMID: 32793814

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Project description:PurposeThe influence of social capital has been shown to improve health and wellbeing. This study investigates the relationship between changes in social capital and health outcomes during a 6-year follow-up in mid to later life in Australia.MethodsNationally representative data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey included participants aged 45 years and over who responded in 2006, 2010 and 2012 (N = 3606). Each of the three components of social capital (connectedness, trust and participation) was measured in Waves 2006 and 2010 and categorised as: 'never low', 'transitioned to low', 'transitioned out of low' and 'consistently low'. Health outcomes in 2012 included self-rated overall health, physical functioning, and mental health based on the Short Form 36-item health survey (SF-36). Multivariable logistic regression assessed changes in social capital (measured in 2006 and 2010) predicted poor health (measured in 2012), adjusting for covariates.ResultsConsistently low trust was significantly associated with higher odds of transitions into poor physical functioning (AOR 1.54; 95% Confidence Interval 1.06-1.22), poor mental health (AOR 1.59; 95% CI 1.08-2.36) and poor self-rated health (AOR 1.86; 95% CI 1.27-2.72). Transition into low trust was also a predictor of poor self-rated health after adjusting for covariates (AOR 1.74; 95% CI 1.11-2.73). Changes in social connectedness in both directions (transitioned out of and into low) were statistically associated with poor self-rated health (AORs 1.40; 95% CI 1.00-1.97 and 1.61; 95% CI 1.11-2.34, respectively) after adjusting for confounders as well as other social capital components.ConclusionsOur longitudinal findings reveal social capital dynamics and effects on health in mid to later life. Social trust and connectedness could be important enablers for older persons to be more active in the community and potentially benefit their health and wellbeing over time.

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Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

Publications

Social Integration, Daily Discrimination, and Biological Markers of Health in Mid- and Later Life: Does Self-Esteem Play an Intermediary Role?

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