Spousal bereavement enhances proinflammatory cytokine production to acute, psychological stress

Early widowhood is characterized by chronic stress and is associated with a higher risk of incident depression and cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Peripheral inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder and atherothrombosis and may represent a common mechanism underlying widow(er)’s elevated risk for both health conditions. Chronic psychological stress sensitizes the release of proinflammatory cytokines during the peripheral stress response. The present study examined whether recent spousal bereavement enhances the inflammatory response to an acute, psychological stressor. Recently widowed older adults (n = 143) and non-widowed controls (n = 69) participated in a quasi-experimental study, during which they underwent the Trier Social Stress Test, provided multiple blood samples through an intravenous catheter (before stressor, 45 min post-stressor, 120 min post-stressor), and completed self-report questionnaires. Blood samples were assayed for serum Interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Mixed linear modeling was used to test hypotheses. There was a significant time × bereavement status effect on IL-6 after controlling for confounding variables. Widow(er)s showed a steeper increase in IL-6 per hour compared to non-bereaved adults. Findings suggest that the inflammatory stress response is heightened in widow(er)s, which may contribute to the mental and physical health risks associated with early widowhood.