title: Sugarcoated isolation: evidence that social avoidance is linked to higher basal glucose levels and higher consumption of glucose.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The human brain adjusts its level of effort in coping with various life stressors as a partial function of perceived access to social resources. We examined whether people who avoid social ties maintain a higher fasting basal level of glucose in their bloodstream and consume more sugar-rich food, reflecting strategies to draw more on personal resources when threatened.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Study 1 (N = 60), we obtained fasting blood glucose and adult attachment orientations data. In Study 2 (N = 285), we collected measures of fasting blood glucose and adult attachment orientations from older adults of mixed gender, using a measure of attachment style different from Study 1. In Study 3 (N = 108), we examined the link between trait-like attachment avoidance, manipulation of an asocial state, and consumption of sugar-rich food. In Study 4 (N = 115), we examined whether manipulating the social network will moderate the effect of attachment avoidance on consumption of sugar-rich food.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Study 1, fasting blood glucose levels corresponded with higher attachment avoidance scores after statistically adjusting for time of assessment and interpersonal anxiety. For Study 2, fasting blood glucose continued to correspond with higher adult attachment avoidance even after statistically adjusting for interpersonal anxiety, stress indices, age, gender, social support and body mass. In Study 3, people high in attachment avoidance consume more sugar-rich food, especially when reminded of asocial tendencies. Study 4 indicated that after facing a stressful task in the presence of others, avoidant people gather more sugar-rich food than more socially oriented people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RESULTS are consistent with the suggestion that socially avoidant individuals upwardly adjust their basal glucose levels and consume more glucose-rich food with the expectation of increased personal effort because of limited access to social resources. Further investigation of this link is warranted.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya , Herzliya, Israel.
authors.forename: Tsachi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ein-Dor
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville , VA, USA.
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Coan
authors.affiliation: Ariel University Center of Samaria , Ariel, Israel.
authors.forename: Abira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reizer
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville , VA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.affiliation: Ruppin Academic Center , Ruppin, Israel.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dahan
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Charlottesville , VA, USA.
authors.forename: Meredyth A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wegener
authors.affiliation: Machon Mor Medical Center , Haifa, Israel ; Haifa University , Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carel
authors.affiliation: Washington University, St. Louis , MO, USA.
authors.forename: Claude R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Cloninger
authors.affiliation: Ruppin Academic Center , Ruppin, Israel.
authors.forename: Ada H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Zohar
keywords: attachment; avoidance; glucose; metabolic resources; social baseline theory; social support; stress