Wu-Chung E Lydia, Brown Ryan L, Suchting Robert, Paoletti-Hatcher Jensine, Chen Michelle A, LeRoy Angie S, Murdock Kyle W, Heijnen Cobi J, Fagundes Christopher P
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, USA.
Human Development and Family Sciences, Texas Tech University, USA.
Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2025 Aug;178:107498. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107498. Epub 2025 May 22.
Early widowhood is characterized by chronic stress and is associated with a higher risk of incident depression and cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Peripheral inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder and atherothrombosis and may represent a common mechanism underlying widow(er)'s elevated risk for both health conditions. Chronic psychological stress sensitizes the release of proinflammatory cytokines during the peripheral stress response. The present study examined whether recent spousal bereavement enhances the inflammatory response to an acute, psychological stressor. Recently widowed older adults (n = 143) and non-widowed controls (n = 69) participated in a quasi-experimental study, during which they underwent the Trier Social Stress Test, provided multiple blood samples through an intravenous catheter (before stressor, 45 min post-stressor, 120 min post-stressor), and completed self-report questionnaires. Blood samples were assayed for serum Interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Mixed linear modeling was used to test hypotheses. There was a significant time × bereavement status effect on IL-6 after controlling for confounding variables. Widow(er)s showed a steeper increase in IL-6 per hour compared to non-bereaved adults. Findings suggest that the inflammatory stress response is heightened in widow(er)s, which may contribute to the mental and physical health risks associated with early widowhood.
早期丧偶的特点是长期处于压力之下，并且与新发抑郁症以及心血管相关疾病的发病率和死亡率升高有关。外周炎症参与了重度抑郁症和动脉粥样硬化血栓形成的发病机制，可能是丧偶者患这两种健康问题风险升高的共同潜在机制。慢性心理压力会使外周应激反应期间促炎细胞因子的释放更加敏感。本研究调查了近期配偶丧亡是否会增强对急性心理应激源的炎症反应。近期丧偶的老年人（n = 143）和未丧偶的对照组（n = 69）参与了一项准实验研究，在此期间他们接受了特里尔社会应激测试，通过静脉导管采集了多份血样（应激源前、应激源后45分钟、应激源后120分钟），并完成了自我报告问卷。对血样进行血清白细胞介素（IL）-6水平检测。采用混合线性模型来检验假设。在控制混杂变量后，时间×丧亲状态对IL-6有显著影响。与未丧亲的成年人相比，丧偶者每小时IL-6的升高更为显著。研究结果表明，丧偶者的炎症应激反应增强，这可能导致与早期丧偶相关的心理和身体健康风险。
