The Psychosocial Context of Financial Stress: Implications for Inflammation and Psychological Health

• Published in: Psychosomatic medicine 2016-02, Vol.78 (2), p.134-143
• Main Authors: Sturgeon, John A, Arewasikporn, Anne, Okun, Morris A, Davis, Mary C, Ong, Anthony D, Zautra, Alex J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; C-reactive protein; Community; Emotional disorders; Female; Humans; Income; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - economics; Inflammation - psychology; Interleukin 6; Male; Mediation; Mental Disorders - blood; Mental Disorders - economics; Mental Disorders - psychology; Mental health; Middle age; Middle Aged; Negative events; Psychological distress; Psychological well being; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial functioning; Social environment; Social interactions; Social perception; Social psychology; Social status; Stress; Stress, Psychological - blood; Stress, Psychological - economics; Stress, Psychological - psychology; Well being
• ISSN: 0033-3174; 1534-7796
• DOI: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000276

Psychological distress may contribute to chronic activation of acute-phase inflammation. The current study investigated how financial stressors influence psychosocial functioning and inflammation. This study examined a) the direct relations between financial stress and inflammation; b) whether the relationships between financial stress and inflammation are mediated in part by negative interpersonal events, psychological distress, and psychological well-being; and c) whether social standing in one's community moderates the relations between financial stress and psychological distress, psychological well-being, and markers of inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6] and C-reactive protein). Stressful financial and interpersonal events over the previous year, perceived social status, indices of psychological well-being and distress, and levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein were assessed in a community sample of 680 middle-aged adults (ages 40-65 years). Structural equation modeling analyses revealed significant relations among financial stress, interpersonal stress, and psychological distress and well-being, and complex relationships between these variables and inflammatory markers. Psychological well-being mediated the association between financial stress and IL-6 ([mediation] ab = 0.012, standard error [SE] = 0.006, p = .048). Furthermore, individuals with higher perceived social standing within their communities exhibited a stronger relation between negative financial events and both interpersonal stressors (interaction B = 0.067, SE = 0.017, p < .001) and C-reactive protein (interaction B = 0.051, SE = 0.026, p = .050). Financial stress demonstrates complex relations with inflammation, due partly to psychological well-being and social perceptions. Findings are discussed with regard to the social context of stress and physiological factors pertinent to stress adaptation and inflammation.