Negative Social Interactions May Increase Inflammation
“Negative social interactions may increase proinflammatory cytokine reactivity, new research suggests. When chronic, this reactivity has been associated with hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, depression, and some cancers.
In a prospective study of more than 100 healthy young adults, stressful or “hostile” interactions during daily living were associated with increased levels of the cytokines IL-6 and soluble receptor for tumor necrosis factor-α (sTNFαRII).
Significant levels of increased inflammation were also found after the participants engaged in competitive interactions, such as in school, the workplace, or even for another’s attention, but not in leisure-time activities such as sports.”
