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. 2005 Dec 20;102(51):18757-62.
doi: 10.1073/pnas.0509281102. Epub 2005 Dec 8.

Social relationships, sleep quality, and interleukin-6 in aging women

Elliot M Friedman  1 , Mary S Hayney, Gayle D Love, Heather L Urry, Melissa A Rosenkranz, Richard J Davidson, Burton H Singer, Carol D Ryff
Affiliations

Social relationships, sleep quality, and interleukin-6 in aging women

Elliot M Friedman et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. .

Abstract

This study examined the interplay of social engagement, sleep quality, and plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a sample of aging women (n = 74, aged 61-90, M age = 73.4). Social engagement was assessed by questionnaire, sleep was assessed by using the NightCap in-home sleep monitoring system and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and blood samples were obtained for analysis of plasma levels of IL-6. Regarding subjective assessment, poorer sleep (higher scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) was associated with lower positive social relations scores. Multivariate regression analyses showed that lower levels of plasma IL-6 were predicted by greater sleep efficiency (P < 0.001), measured objectively and by more positive social relations (P < 0.05). A significant interaction showed that women with the highest IL-6 levels were those with both poor sleep efficiency and poor social relations (P < 0.05). However, those with low sleep efficiency but compensating good relationships as well as women with poor relationships but compensating high sleep efficiency had IL-6 levels comparable to those with the protective influences of both good social ties and good sleep.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Bivariate associations of positive relations with others and sleep efficiency with IL-6. (A) Bivariate scatter plot of the association of positive relations with others and plasma IL-6. There was a significant negative association between these variables, with higher scores on the positive relations measure predicting lower levels of IL-6 (R = -0.34, P < 0.01). Data transformations are indicated on the figure axis labels. (B) Bivariate scatter plot of the association of sleep efficiency and plasma IL-6. There was a significant negative association between these variables, with higher scores on the positive relations measure predicting lower levels of IL-6 (R = -0.44, P < 0.001). Data transformations are indicated on the figure axis labels.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Interaction of sleep efficiency and positive relations with others. The interaction significantly predicted plasma IL-6 levels (β = 1.19, P < 0.05). The data points shown were calculated from the same regression equation. Sociodemographic, health status, and health behavior control variables were set to their mean values. Maximal or minimal values for sleep efficiency and positive relations predictor variables were then added to the equation to generate the estimates shown here (37).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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