Key result
Perceived social support predicted lower C-reactive protein levels at 2 years for adults with high self-esteem, but was not significantly associated with CRP for those with low self-esteem.
Why the study?
Social support is a strong psychosocial predictor of physical health, but whether self-esteem moderates its health benefits remained unknown.
Does perceived social support reduce C-reactive protein levels in middle-aged adults, and is this moderated by self-esteem?
Cohort (n=949)
Does perceived social support reduce C-reactive protein levels in middle-aged adults, and is this moderated by self-esteem?
Self-esteem moderates the relationship between perceived social support and systemic inflammation (CRP) in middle-aged adults.
Self-esteem may moderate social support's link to inflammation; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
OBJECTIVE: Social support is one of the strongest psychosocial predictors of physical health. However, is this the case for everyone? On the basis of recent research suggesting that self-esteem can moderate the psychological effects of social support, the present research investigated whether self-esteem would moderate the health benefits of social support. METHOD: A national sample of middle-aged adults (N = 949) completed self-report questionnaires on perceived social support, self-esteem, sociodemographic information, and health related behaviors. Two years later, they provided a blood sample that was analyzed for C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. RESULTS: The effect of perceived social support on inflammation was moderated by self-esteem. Specifically, perceived social support predicted lower CRP for people with high self-esteem, whereas it was not significantly associated with CRP for those with low self-esteem. These results held even after controlling for sociodemographic information, health related behaviors, and medication usage. CONCLUSION: Self-esteem is a key variable that may modulate the link between social support and inflammation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
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Lee et al. (2019) reported a cohort. Perceived social support was evaluated on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Perceived social support predicted lower C-reactive protein levels at 2 years for adults with high self-esteem, but was not significantly associated with CRP for those with low self-esteem.
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