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Association between perceived social support and Th1 dominance
Takao Miyazaki1, Toshio Ishikawa, Akinori Nakata
1Division of Psychosomatic Research, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashicho Kodaira, Tokyo 187 8502, Japan.
Biological Psychology
|June 28, 2005
Summary
Perceived social support positively impacts immune function, influencing Natural Killer cell counts and Interleukin-4 levels. It also affects T cell counts and Interferon-gamma production, demonstrating a link between social connections and immune health.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Occupational Health
- Immunology
Background:
- Social support is theorized to enhance health by modulating immune system responses.
- Understanding the relationship between social support and specific immune markers is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between perceived social support and various immune system parameters in male employees.
- To explore how job stress interacts with social support to influence immune function.
Main Methods:
- Immunological assessments included T cell counts, Natural Killer (NK) cell counts, Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), and Interleukin-4 (IL-4).
- Psychological assessments utilized the Generic Job Stress Questionnaire.
- Statistical analyses involved two-way (social support x job stressor) analyses of covariance, controlling for covariates like age, smoking, alcohol consumption, and exercise.
Main Results:
- Perceived social support showed main effects on NK cell counts, IL-4 levels, and the Th1/Th2 balance.
- Interaction effects between social support and job stressors were observed for T cell counts and INF-gamma production in vitro.
- These findings suggest that social support influences immune function through both direct and buffering mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Perceived social support significantly modulates key immune parameters in male employees.
- The impact of social support on immune function is complex, varying with the type of immune marker and the presence of job stressors.
- Results support both direct and buffering hypotheses regarding social support's influence on immunity.