Changes in eudaimonic well-being and the conserved transcriptional response to adversity in younger breast cancer survivors
- PMID: 30703712
- DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.01.024
Changes in eudaimonic well-being and the conserved transcriptional response to adversity in younger breast cancer survivors
Abstract
Background: The conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA), characterized by increased expression of proinflammatory genes and decreased expression of antiviral and antibody-related genes, is upregulated in the context of chronic adversity and distress and has been linked to cancer progression. Several studies suggest that the CTRA may also be down-regulated in association with some positive psychological states, particularly eudaimonic well-being. However, it is not clear if the link between inter-individual differences in the CTRA and eudaimonic well-being can be extended to intra-individual change. Using a standardized mindfulness-based intervention, the current study tested whether mindfulness-related increases in eudaimonic well-being related to intra-individual reduction in the CTRA in a sample of younger breast cancer survivors.
Methods: Participants were 22 women who had been diagnosed and treated for early-stage breast cancer at or before age 50 (Mage = 46.6 years) and had no evidence of active disease. Women completed self-report questionnaires and provided peripheral blood samples before and after a 6-week mindfulness meditation intervention. Regression analyses were used to quantify associations between the magnitude of change in eudaimonic well-being and the magnitude of change in the global CTRA score.
Results: Women reported significant increases in eudaimonic well-being and showed decreased expression of the pro-inflammatory subcomponent of the CTRA from pre- to post-intervention. The magnitude of increase in eudaimonic well-being was associated with the magnitude of decrease in the composite CTRA score, and this relationship was driven primarily by increased expression of the antiviral/antibody-related CTRA subcomponent. While the intervention was also associated with reduced depressive symptoms, there was no association between change in depressive symptoms and change in the overall CTRA composite score or either of its subcomponents.
Conclusions: Results are consistent with the hypothesis that eudaimonic well-being may be an important mechanism in interventions aimed at enhancing health in vulnerable groups, and contribute to our understanding of how psychological well-being may influence physical health in cancer patients.
Keywords: Cancer; Eudaimonia; Gene expression; Immune system; Mindfulness meditation; Psychoneuroimmunology.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Similar articles
-
Loneliness, eudaimonia, and the human conserved transcriptional response to adversity.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:11-7. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.001. Epub 2015 Jul 8. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015. PMID: 26246388 Free PMC article.
-
Psychological well-being and the human conserved transcriptional response to adversity.PLoS One. 2015 Mar 26;10(3):e0121839. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121839. eCollection 2015. PLoS One. 2015. PMID: 25811656 Free PMC article.
-
Psychological well-being and gene expression in Korean adults: The role of age.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020 Oct;120:104785. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104785. Epub 2020 Jun 24. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2020. PMID: 32622293
-
Mindfulness-based interventions for coping with cancer.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016 Jun;1373(1):5-12. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13029. Epub 2016 Mar 9. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2016. PMID: 26963792 Review.
-
Mindfulness and eudaimonic well-being: the mediating roles of rumination and emotion dysregulation.Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2021 Jun 18;33(6):347-356. doi: 10.1515/ijamh-2021-0009. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2021. PMID: 34142512 Review.
Cited by
-
A single-arm, open-label pilot study of neuroimaging, behavioral, and peripheral inflammatory correlates of mindfulness-based stress reduction in multiple sclerosis.Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 18;14(1):14044. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-62960-w. Sci Rep. 2024. PMID: 38890336 Free PMC article.
-
Cultivating a healthy neuro-immune network: A health psychology approach.Soc Personal Psychol Compass. 2019 Sep;13(9):e12498. doi: 10.1111/spc3.12498. Epub 2019 Sep 9. Soc Personal Psychol Compass. 2019. PMID: 37008404 Free PMC article.
-
Differences According to Sex in the Relationship between Social Participation and Well-Being: A Network Analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 12;19(20):13135. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192013135. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022. PMID: 36293720 Free PMC article.
-
Effect of Mindfulness Versus Loving-kindness Training on Leukocyte Gene Expression in Midlife Adults Raised in Low-Socioeconomic Status Households.Mindfulness (N Y). 2022 May;13(5):1185-1196. doi: 10.1007/s12671-022-01857-z. Epub 2022 Mar 16. Mindfulness (N Y). 2022. PMID: 36278141 Free PMC article.
-
Improving biobehavioral health in younger breast cancer survivors: Pathways to Wellness trial secondary outcomes.J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 Jan 10;115(1):83-92. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djac180. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023. PMID: 36130057 Free PMC article. Clinical Trial.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical