Dispositional depression and hostility are associated with inflammatory markers of cardiovascular disease in African

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Denee T Mwendwa1, Mana K Ali, Regina C Sims

  • 1Department of Psychology, Howard University, 525 Bryant Street, NW, Room N-179, CB Powell Building, Washington, DC 20059, USA. dmwendwa@howard.edu

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|November 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Dispositional depression and hostility are linked to inflammatory biomarkers linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in African Americans. Lower education and higher hostility amplify these associations, highlighting personality

Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Health Disparities

Background:

  • State depressive symptoms and hostility modulate inflammatory immune responses, contributing to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Previous research has not fully explored dispositional depression's role in inflammation or included African Americans, a high-risk group.
  • African Americans face disproportionately higher risks for CVD, necessitating research into specific contributing factors within this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of state and dispositional depression and hostility on CVD-associated inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein) in African Americans.
  • To examine synergistic effects of hostility and depression on these inflammatory biomarkers.
  • To explore how gender and education influence the relationships between depression, hostility, and inflammatory biomarkers.

Main Methods:

  • Collected anthropometric measures, blood serum samples, and psychosocial data from 198 African Americans in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
  • Utilized hierarchical and stepwise regression analyses to examine associations between variables.
  • Assessed inflammatory biomarkers: interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Main Results:

  • Increased hostility levels were significantly associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
  • The association between hostility and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was stronger in participants with lower educational attainment.
  • Dispositional depression and CRP were more strongly associated among individuals with higher hostility and lower educational attainment.

Conclusions:

  • Enduring personality traits, including dispositional depression and hostility, are crucial for assessing cardiovascular health in African Americans.
  • Educational attainment and hostility levels may moderate the relationship between depression and inflammation.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate causal pathways linking depressive and hostile personality styles to inflammatory activity in African Americans.

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