Identifying whether IgG antibody response to herpesviruses and inflammation varies with exposure to neighborhood social cohesion, trauma, and psychosocial resources

Health disparities by neighborhoods in the US continue to exist. Investigation of immunological biomarkers may elucidate the link between the neighborhood environment and health through biological mechanisms. Living in low socially cohesive neighborhoods has been associated with adverse health outcomes and poor mental health. Yet how neighborhood social cohesion relates to immunological health has been sparsely explored. The objectives of this study were to determine if neighborhood social cohesion was associated with immunological biomarkers and to identify potential modifiers. This was addressed through a secondary analysis using a cohort from Detroit, Michigan to examine: 1) the association between social cohesion and four immunological biomarkers and 2) whether these associations could be modified by exposure to traumatic events and access to psychosocial resources. Neighborhood social cohesion was differentially associated with inflammation and cell-mediated immunity in adults. Individuals reporting low social cohesion had significantly poorer cell-mediated immunity compared to high social cohesion. However, inflammation was lower among those reporting less social cohesion as oppose to high social cohesion. A one-year change in immunological biomarkers was greatest among individuals living in medium social cohesion neighborhoods. Less exposure to traumatic events and higher access to psychosocial resources may also buffer the effects of neighborhood social cohesion on immunological biomarkers. In low socially cohesive neighborhoods, individuals with high access to psychosocial resources and less exposure to traumatic events had lower inflammation and better cell-mediated immunity compared to those with low access to psychosocial resources and higher exposure to trauma. While neighborhood social cohesion has been linked to various health outcomes, our findings suggest a biological mechanism underlying these associations. Immunological differences by social cohesion may be one pathway through which neighborhood connections or networks may buffer the influence of stressors on health. However, future research should also consider the potential role of individual resources and experiences as protective factors for cell-mediated immunity and inflammation.Doctor of Philosoph