title: Inflammatory biomarkers and emotional approach coping in men with prostate cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emotion-regulating coping is associated with improvements in psychological and physical health outcomes. Yet in the context of prostate cancer-related stressors, limited research has characterized associations of emotion-regulating coping processes (emotional expression, emotional processing) and inflammatory processes that are related to disease risk. This investigation examined the relation of Emotional Approach Coping (EAC) with markers of inflammation to test the hypothesis that higher EAC scores at study entry (T1) would be associated with lower proinflammatory markers four months later (T2), specifically sTNF-RII, CRP, and IL-6.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one men (M age=66.62 years; SD=9.62) who had undergone radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer within two years completed questionnaires, including assessments of EAC, at T1, and provided blood samples for immune assessments at T2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When controlling for relevant biobehavioral controls, emotional processing predicted lower IL-6 (B=-.66, p<.01), sTNF-RII (B=-.43, p<.05), and CRP (B=-.43, p<.10), whereas emotional expression was significantly associated with higher levels of sTNF-RII (B=.55, p<.05). Associations of emotional expression and IL-6 (B=.38, p<.10), and CRP (B=.44, p<.10) approached significance. Probing interactions of emotional processing and expression (though only approaching significance) suggested that expression of emotion is associated with higher inflammation (CRP and sTNF-RII) only in the context of low emotional processing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Attempts at emotion regulation via emotional processing appear to modulate inflammatory processes. Understanding, making meaning of, and working through emotional experience may be a promising target of intervention to reduce inflammation with potential effects on psychological and cancer outcomes in men with prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY 10065, USA. michael.hoyt@hunter.cuny.edu
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hoyt
authors.forename: Annette L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: Julienne E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: KaMala S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Litwin
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Irwin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011468:Prostatectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein