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Are social relations less health protective in women than in men? Social relations, gender, and cardiovascular health

Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Kristina.Orth-Gomer{at}ki.se, Orth-Gomer{at}charite.de

Individuals with no or few social contacts have an increased risk of dying prematurely from coronary disease. Social ties generally exert general, but unspecific, health protective effects, however, negative social ties are sometimes harmful for women's cardiac health. In a clinical trial of psychosocial intervention, consecutive female coronary patients received a one year cognitive stress reduction, and support strengthening program. In a nine year follow up, the program reduced mortality by two thirds when compared to women in typical care programs. There is additional evidence from population based studies, from clinical observational studies, and from controlled interventional studies that social support is health (and specifically cardiac) protective and that these effects are generalized in men.

Key Words: cardiovascular health • gender differences • social relations • social support

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Vol. 26, No. 1, 63-71 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0265407509105522


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