Social support and immune function among spouses of cancer patients.
This study investigated whether social support was related to immune function among spouses of cancer patients. Effects of depression and negative life events were examined as potential mediators. Results showed evidence of greater immunocompetence on 2 of 3 dynamic measures: natural killer cytotoxicity and proliferation response to phytohemagglutinin among spouses who reported high levels of social support. All six components of social support assessed by the Social Provisions Scale (Cutrona & Russell, 1987) were strongly related to these indices of immune function. No evidence was found for mediation by either life events or depression.
Baron
R S
RS
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242.
Cutrona
C E
CE
Hicklin
D
D
Russell
D W
DW
Lubaroff
D M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D007121:Immunocompetence / Q000276:immunology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012944:Social Support