Social support and risk for cardiovascular disease and cancer: a qualitative review examining the role of inflammatory processes

Abstract

Social support has long been recognised as a protective factor against life stress and poor health. However, the mechanism through which it exerts its effects is unknown. As the role of inflammation in the development of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, has gained significant attention over the last decade, it has been hypothesised that psychosocial factors affect disease progression by influencing the inflammatory process (Sher, 2000). Social support is one such factor that could influence the immune system response, leading to differing disease outcomes. A meditational model is proposed, in which social support affects the level of inflammation an individual experiences, producing differing health outcomes. A critical review of the literature linking social support and inflammation was conducted to help elucidate the relation between these two variables as possible causal factors of disease progression in patients with cardiovascular disease or cancer. Results of the studies were mixed, suggesting that social support and inflammation may be linked, though it is premature to claim that inflammation is the mechanism through which social support exerts salubrious effects on health.

Keywords:

• social support
• inflammation
• critical review
• cardiovascular
• IL-6
• C-reactive protein
• cancer
• qualitative review

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank John B. Barnett, PhD, of the WVU School of Medicine for his consultation on immunology questions.