title: The Strength of Family Ties: Perceptions of Network Relationship Quality and Levels of C-Reactive Proteins in the North Texas Heart Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the quality of one's social relationships has been linked to important physical health outcomes, less work has been conducted examining family and friends that differ in their underlying positivity and negativity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The main aim of this study was to examine the association between supportive, aversive, and ambivalent family/friends with levels of C-reactive proteins.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred participants from the North Texas Heart Study completed the social relationships index and a blood draw to assess high-sensitivity C-reactive proteins (hs-CRPs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After standard controls, the number of supportive family members predicted lower hs-CRP levels, whereas the number of ambivalent family members predicted higher hs-CRP levels. These links were independent of depressive symptoms and perceived stress.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data highlight the importance of considering specific types of relationships and their underlying positive and negative aspects in research on social ties and physical health.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, bert.uchino@psych.utah.edu.
authors: Bert N
authors: BN
authors: Uchino
authors: John M
authors: JM
authors: Ruiz
authors: Timothy W
authors: TW
authors: Smith
authors: Joshua M
authors: JM
authors: Smyth
authors: Daniel J
authors: DJ
authors: Taylor
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Allison
authors: Chul
authors: C
authors: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein