Socioeconomic and psychosocial predictors of interleukin-6 in the MIDUS national sample.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether psychosocial factors (i.e., depression, anxiety, and well-being) moderated educational gradients in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels using data from the Survey of Midlife Development in the U.S. (MIDUS). The influences of educational attainment and psychosocial factors on IL-6 in middle aged and older adults were also examined.


METHODS
Telephone interviews and mail surveys were utilized to collect educational attainment and psychosocial information from respondents (N = 1028). Respondents also participated in an overnight clinic visit, during which health information and a fasting blood sample were obtained.


METHODS
Serum levels of IL-6.


RESULTS
Greater educational attainment predicted lower levels of IL-6 independent of age and gender, although this effect was attenuated after taking health behaviors, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and chronic illnesses into account. Psychological well-being interacted with education to predict IL-6, such that for those with less education, higher well-being was associated with lower levels of IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate a strong association between education and inflammation, which can be further moderated by psychosocial factors. The health benefits associated with psychological well-being were particularly evident for individuals with low educational attainment.
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA. morozink@wisc.edu
Jennifer A
JA
Morozink
Elliot M
EM
Friedman
Christopher L
CL
Coe
Carol D
CD
Ryff
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003863:Depression; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6