title: Psychological Resources Are Independently Associated with Markers of Inflammation in a Middle-Aged Community Sample.
abstract: To elucidate possible independent associations of psychological resources with inflammatory markers, all linked with coronary heart disease (CHD).
  
  
  
  In a middle-aged general population (n = 944), psychological resources (coping, self-esteem, and sense of coherence (SOC)), a global measure of quality of life (Cantril's self-anchoring ladder, also called "ladder of life"), and psychological risk factors (hopelessness, vital exhaustion, and depressive symptoms) were used in linear regression models to evaluate associations with the inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Adjustments were done for age, sex, medical conditions, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  
  After full adjustments, self-esteem was independently associated with all three biomarkers. Ladder of life was associated with IL-6 and log-CRP; coping, vital exhaustion, and depressive symptoms with IL-6; and SOC with MMP-9 (p < 0.05 for all associations).
  
  
  
  Numerous significant associations of psychological resources and risk factors with IL-6, CRP, and MMP-9 were found in a community-based sample. The associations of psychological resources were mostly independent, while the psychological risk factors seemed preferentially dependent on lifestyle factors as smoking, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI). This suggests that the psychological resources' (in particular self-esteem) protective effects on CHD are linked to inflammatory markers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden. ina.marteinsdottir@liu.se.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Marteinsdottir
authors.affiliation: Division of Neuro and Inflammation Sciences, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ernerudh
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonasson
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kristenson
authors.affiliation: Division of Community Medicine, Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.|Unit for Research and Development of Local Health Care, County of Östergötland, Linköping, Sweden.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Garvin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000523:psychology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D060685:Sense of Coherence
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: Biomarker; Epidemiology; Inflammation; Positive psychology, self-anchoring ladder; Psychoneuroimmunology