Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior
| Autor: | S. Katherine Nelson-Coffey, Megan M. Fritz, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Steve W. Cole |
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| Rok vydání: | 2017 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Male Kindness Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism media_common.quotation_subject Clinical Trials and Supportive Activities Context (language use) Disease Medical and Health Sciences 050105 experimental psychology Developmental psychology 03 medical and health sciences Young Adult 0302 clinical medicine Endocrinology Positive psychology Clinical Research Behavioral and Social Science Leukocytes 80 and over Genetics Humans 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences Young adult Association (psychology) Social Behavior Biological Psychiatry media_common Aged Aged 80 and over Psychiatry Endocrine and Autonomic Systems 05 social sciences Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychoneuroimmunology Middle Aged Health psychology Psychiatry and Mental health Prosocial behavior Female Psychology Transcriptome 030217 neurology & neurosurgery Biotechnology |
| Zdroj: | Nelson-Coffey, SK; Fritz, MM; Lyubomirsky, S; & Cole, SW. (2017). Kindness in the blood: A randomized controlled trial of the gene regulatory impact of prosocial behavior. PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, 81, 8-13. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.025. UC Riverside: Retrieved from: http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/3wz5m4w0 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.03.025. |
| Popis: | Context Prosocial behavior is linked to longevity, but few studies have experimentally manipulated prosocial behavior to identify the causal mechanisms underlying this association. One possible mediating pathway involves changes in gene expression that may subsequently influence disease development or resistance. Design, setting, participants In the current study, we examined changes in a leukocyte gene expression profile known as the Conserved Transcriptional Response to Adversity (CTRA) in 159 adults who were randomly assigned for 4 weeks to engage in prosocial behavior directed towards specific others, prosocial behavior directed towards the world in general, self-focused kindness, or a neutral control task. Results Those randomized to prosocial behavior towards specific others demonstrated improvements (i.e., reductions) in leukocyte expression of CTRA indicator genes. No significant changes in CTRA gene expression were observed in the other 3 conditions. Conclusion These findings suggest that prosocial behavior can causally impact leukocyte gene expression profiles in ways that might potentially help explain the previously observed health advantages associated with social ties. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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