Social Linkages to Biological Markers of Health Among the Elderly

Abstract

The social environment and exposure to life challenge affect a person's physical and emotional well-being. The present research uses a population-based study of the elderly in Taiwan to elaborate the cumulative physiological costs -as reflected in biological markers of risk factors known to have adverse consequences for health -of challenge and unfavourable position in social hierarchies and networks. Overall, biological markers of risk among the elderly are similar in Taiwan and the United States. However, male and female Taiwanese elderly are at lower risk for illness associated with indicators of DHEA-S, while women are at higher risk for illness associated with elevated blood pressure, and men at lower risk for illness associated with total/HDL cholesterol, and glycosylated haemoglobin. There are strong and statistically significant effects of position in social hierarchy (education) and challenge (recent widowhood and a perception of high demands) on an index of cumulative risk (allostatic load). Membership in social networks and participation in social activities have expected, but not statistically discernible, effects.

Allostatic load and biological anthropology

“…Cut-points defined by quartiles Seeman et al (1997Seeman et al ( , 2001Seeman et al ( , 2002, Seeman, Crimmins, et al (2004), Seeman, Glei, et al (2004), Kubzansky et al (1999), Karlamangla et al (2002Karlamangla et al ( , 2014, Schnorpfeil et al (2003), Weinstein et al (2003), Hampson et al (2009), Lipowicz et al (2014, Riva et al (2014), Barboza Solís et al (2015), Gale et al (2015), Horan and Widom (2015), McClure et al (2015), Zilioli et al (2015), Hansen et al (2016), Kusano et al (2016), and Robertson and Watts (2016) Cut-points defined by deciles Goldman et al (2005), Glei et al (2007), and Hwang et al (2014) Cut-points defined using clinical criteria Seeman et al (2008), Hampson et al (2009), Bird et al (2010 and Rosenberg et al (2014) Cut-points defined using a combination of clinical criteria and either deciles or quartiles (2015), Gale et al (2015), and Robertson and Watts (2016) Use of two-tailed cut-points Hampson et al (2009) and Hwang et al (2014) Use of recursive partitioning to calculate allostatic load Gruenewald et al (2006) Allostatic load scored by system rather than by biomarkers Karlamangla et al (2014), Seeman et al (2014), Gay et al (2015), and Zilioli et al (2015) Calculated allostatic...…”

“…Theoretically, stressful experiences directly increase allostatic load (Goldman, Glei, Seplaki, Liu, & Weinstein, 2005;Seeman et al, 2010). Accordingly, some studies demonstrate higher numbers of stressful events or life challenges are associated significantly with higher allostatic load (Glei, Goldman, Chuang, & Weinstein, 2007;Weinstein, Goldman, Hedley, Yu-Hsuan, & Seeman, 2003) Of particular interest to biological anthropology, health disparities along with differential morbidity and mortality may be related to variation in allostatic load. In general, higher allostatic load is associated with poorer physical performance and increased risk for physical decline (Seeman et al, 1997).…”

“…By producing life-long dysregulation of stress responses (Lupien et al, 2006;McEwen, 1998bMcEwen, , 2000aMcEwen, , 2000bMcEwen, , 2001McEwen, , 2003McEwen, , 2012 load associates significantly with greater perceived stress (Goldman et al, 2005), hostility (Kubzansky, Kawachi, & Sparrow, 1999;Seeman et al, 2002), poor coping skills (Fernandez et al, 2015), and lack of purpose in life (Zilioli et al, 2015). Conversely, those with more integrated social networks and/or greater perceived social support appear to be protected against damaging after effects of stressors and dysregulation of allostasis (Bovard, 1985;Cohen & Wills, 1985;Goldman et al, 2005; Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010;Horan & Widom, 2015;Hostinar, Sullivan, & Gunnar, 2014;House, Landis, & Umberson, 1988;Levine, Coe, & Wiener, 1989;McEwen, 2012;Seeman, 1996;Seeman et al, 1994Seeman et al, , 2002Seeman, Glei, et al, 2004;Seeman & McEwen, 1996;Smith & Christakis, 2008;Uchino, 2006;Uchino, Cacioppo, & Kiecolt-Glaser, 1996;Weinstein et al, 2003). Correspondingly, stronger social networks are negatively associated with allostatic load (Glei et al, 2007;Horan & Widom, 2015;Seeman, Glei, et al, 2004;Seeman et al, 2002).…”

Do Chronic Stressors Lead to Physiological Dysregulation? Testing the Theory of Allostatic Load

“…Few studies have demonstrated an association between stressful life events and a measure of multisystem physiological dysregulation (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Rather, most have focused on individual biological measures believed to be part of the stress response.…”

Neuroendocrine biomarkers, social relations, and the cumulative costs of stress in Taiwan

“…Increasing age is associated with greater authority, decision-making power, and improved treatment by children and others (Beckett et al, 2002). Chinese culture has also placed great value on education, and in modern-day Taiwan educational attainment remains a critical component of social status and a vehicle for upward mobility (Smith, 1991;Weinstein et al, 2003).…”