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Attachment style and changes in systemic inflammation following migration to a new country among international students.

Authors :
Gouin JP
MacNeil S
Source :
Attachment & human development [Attach Hum Dev] 2019 Feb; Vol. 21 (1), pp. 38-56. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Nov 08.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

Attachment style may influence the acculturation process by shaping the types of social relationships that individuals form and maintain. Social relationship quantity and quality have been linked to chronic low-grade systemic inflammation, an immune process associated with risk for age-related diseases. The goal of this study was to investigate whether attachment style moderates the change in systemic inflammation during the early phases of the acculturation process, a period associated with rapid changes in social functioning. In this 5-month longitudinal study, 58 new international students completed the Adult Attachment Scale and provided blood samples for C-reactive protein (CRP) analysis shortly after arrival in the host country as well as 2 and 5 months later. Results indicated that individuals with higher attachment anxiety experienced larger increases in CRP over time. During a period of rapid changes in social functioning, attachment anxiety promotes immune changes that may increase health risk over time.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1469-2988
Volume :
21
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Attachment & human development
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
30406717
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2018.1541515