TY - JOUR
T1 - Political context is associated with everyday cortisol synchrony in older couples
AU - Pauly, Theresa
AU - Kolodziejczak, Karolina
AU - Drewelies, Johanna
AU - Gerstorf, Denis
AU - Ram, Nilam
AU - Hoppmann, Christiane A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by The German Research Foundation, Germany [ GE 1896/6-1 ]. We gratefully acknowledge support from The Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research, Canada , and The Canada Research Chairs (CRC) Program, Canada , to Christiane Hoppmann, The CRC Program to Maureen Ashe, and the Li Tze Fong Fellowship to Theresa Pauly.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
PY - 2021/2
Y1 - 2021/2
N2 - Prior research with predominantly younger to middle-aged samples has demonstrated that couples’ cortisol levels covary throughout the day (cortisol synchrony). Not much is known about cortisol synchrony in old age, and its potential broader societal correlates. The current study investigates associations between the socio-political context and cortisol synchrony as observed in older couples’ daily lives. 160 older German couples (Mage = 72 years, range: 56–89) provided salivary cortisol samples 7 times daily for a 7-day period. Socio-political context was quantified using state-specific voting data from the 2017 German federal election along the left-right political spectrum. Multilevel models controlling for diurnal cortisol rhythm, food intake, sex, age, body mass index, education, and individual-level political orientation revealed evidence for synchrony in partners’ cortisol fluctuations (b = 0.03, p < .001). The extent of cortisol synchrony was moderated by left-right political context, such that older couples living in a federal state placed further right exhibited greater cortisol synchrony than couples living in a federal state placed further left (b = 0.01, p = .015). Findings point to the importance of considering the socio-political context of health-relevant biopsychosocial dynamics in old age. Future research needs to investigate mechanisms underlying such associations, including how politics shape opportunities and motivation for interdependencies that promote better or worse health.
AB - Prior research with predominantly younger to middle-aged samples has demonstrated that couples’ cortisol levels covary throughout the day (cortisol synchrony). Not much is known about cortisol synchrony in old age, and its potential broader societal correlates. The current study investigates associations between the socio-political context and cortisol synchrony as observed in older couples’ daily lives. 160 older German couples (Mage = 72 years, range: 56–89) provided salivary cortisol samples 7 times daily for a 7-day period. Socio-political context was quantified using state-specific voting data from the 2017 German federal election along the left-right political spectrum. Multilevel models controlling for diurnal cortisol rhythm, food intake, sex, age, body mass index, education, and individual-level political orientation revealed evidence for synchrony in partners’ cortisol fluctuations (b = 0.03, p < .001). The extent of cortisol synchrony was moderated by left-right political context, such that older couples living in a federal state placed further right exhibited greater cortisol synchrony than couples living in a federal state placed further left (b = 0.01, p = .015). Findings point to the importance of considering the socio-political context of health-relevant biopsychosocial dynamics in old age. Future research needs to investigate mechanisms underlying such associations, including how politics shape opportunities and motivation for interdependencies that promote better or worse health.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105082
DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105082
M3 - Article
C2 - 33316693
AN - SCOPUS:85097557746
VL - 124
JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology
JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology
SN - 0306-4530
M1 - 105082
ER -
