Ross Kharah M, Miller Gregory, Qadir Sameen, Keenan-Devlin Lauren, Leigh Adam K K, Borders Ann
Dept. of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston IL, United States.
Dept. of Psychology and Institute for Policy Research, Northwestern University, Evanston IL, United States.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2017 Mar;77:252-260. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Jan 12.
Close relationships are associated with pregnancy outcomes, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. This paper examines whether quality of women's close relationships, specifically with romantic partner (RP) and closest friend or family member (CF), is associated with inflammatory biomarkers during the third trimester of pregnancy.
90 pregnant women were assessed during the second and third trimester. At both visits they completed self-reports describing the positive and negative aspects of their RP and CF relationships. Peripheral blood was collected during these visits, and used to measure systemic levels of cytokines, including IFNγ, IL10, IL6, IL8 and IL13. An index of inflammatory regulation, as reflected by the ratio of IL6:IL10, was also computed.
Positive (e.g. support, intimacy) and negative (e.g. conflict) aspects of the RP relationship interacted to predict third trimester cytokine values. Specifically, RP relationships relatively low in both positive and negative aspects were associated with lower third trimester anti-inflammatory (IL10, IL13) and anti-viral (IFNγ) cytokines, and a higher IL6:IL10 ratio, controlling for second trimester levels. These associations were independent of demographics, gestational age, weeks between assessment, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal stress, distress, depressed mood and RP cohabitation. CF relationship aspects were not associated with inflammatory markers.
RP relationships relatively low in both positive, e.g. support and intimacy, and negative, e.g. conflict, aspects were associated with a less anti- and more pro-inflammatory cytokine profile during the third trimester. These findings have implications for understanding the associations amongst close relationships, inflammation, and potentially pregnancy outcomes.
亲密关系与妊娠结局相关，但其中涉及的机制鲜为人知。本文研究了女性亲密关系的质量，特别是与浪漫伴侣（RP）以及最亲密的朋友或家庭成员（CF）的关系质量，是否与妊娠晚期的炎症生物标志物相关。
对90名孕妇在妊娠中期和晚期进行评估。在两次访视时，她们都完成了自我报告，描述其与RP和CF关系的积极和消极方面。在这些访视期间采集外周血，用于测量细胞因子的全身水平，包括干扰素γ、白细胞介素10、白细胞介素6、白细胞介素8和白细胞介素13。还计算了由白细胞介素6:白细胞介素10比值反映的炎症调节指数。
RP关系的积极方面（如支持、亲密）和消极方面（如冲突）相互作用，可预测妊娠晚期的细胞因子值。具体而言，在控制妊娠中期水平的情况下，积极和消极方面相对较低的RP关系与妊娠晚期较低的抗炎（白细胞介素10、白细胞介素13）和抗病毒（干扰素γ）细胞因子以及较高的白细胞介素6:白细胞介素10比值相关。这些关联独立于人口统计学特征、孕周、两次评估之间的周数、产次、孕前体重指数、母亲压力、痛苦、抑郁情绪和RP同居情况。CF关系方面与炎症标志物无关。
在积极方面（如支持和亲密）和消极方面（如冲突）都相对较低的RP关系，与妊娠晚期抗炎细胞因子较少、促炎细胞因子较多的情况相关。这些发现对于理解亲密关系、炎症以及潜在的妊娠结局之间的关联具有启示意义。
