Untitled Document

Research

Gayle D. Love

Ph.D., Texas A&M University
Researcher, Institute on Aging
glove@wisc.edu

Mind-Body Health Dynamics in Middle and Later Life

My research explores the proposition that psychological and emotional health are inextricably linked with physical health. Explorations of this proposition are further grounded in the assumption that these linkages are dynamic, changing over the life course and influenced by the individual's capacity to cope effectively with stressful life experiences.

Tests of this proposition have been conducted in collaboration with Dr. Carol Ryff and Dr. Burton Singer using longitudinal sample of women aged 55 and older who made a local move from one independent living situation to another. The first four waves of data collection generated extensive information about psychological health, including positive psychological well-being, social relationships, physical and functional health, and detailed information on significant life events and the emotions associated with them. The focus shifted for the subsequent waves of data collection. Time 5 and Time 6 data include clinical health assessments, and an assessment of immune function. The seventh, and final wave, of data collection was an 8 day, phone-based, diary study of daily experiences (positive and negative).

Collaboratively, we have been using these data to develop mechanisms for exploring the influences of cumulative life experience on current, or future, health. For example, using data from the Relocation study we have developed a typology of the process of resilience (the capacity to improve, or maintain, physical and/or mental health despite stressful life experiences) that allows us to define mental and/or physical health trajectories over time. Ongoing work in this area looks at differences in physical health outcomes for persons on improving vs. declining or stable trajectories. Analyses have also focused on elaborating the positive factors comprising the adaptive, protective mechanisms that contribute to resilience. Most recently we have been examining differences in the links between eudaimonic and hedonic well-being and various biomarkers. Data collection is in progress for MIDUS II Psychosocial Contributors to Health and Illness.

Representative Publications
Tsenkova, V.K., Love, G.D., Singer, B.H., & Ryff, C.D. (2008). Coping and positive affect predict longitudinal change in glycosylated hemoglobin. Health Psychology, 27(2, Suppl), S163-S171.

Friedman, E.M., Love, G.D., Davidson, R., Urry, H., Rosencranz, M., Singer, B.H., & Ryff, C.D. (2007). Socioeconomic status predicts subjective and objective sleep quality in aging women. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69, 682-691.

Friedman, E.M., Hayney, M., Love, G.D., Singer, B.H., & Ryff, C.D. (2007). Plasma interleukin-6 and soluble IL-6 receptors are associated with psychological well-being in aging women. Health Psychology, 26, 305-313.

Tsenkova, V.K., Love, G.D., Singer, B.H., & Ryff, C.D. (2007). Socioeconomic status and psychological well-being predict cross-time change in glycosylated hemoglobin in older women without diabetes. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(8), 777-784.

Ryff, C.D., Love, G.D., Muller, D., Urry, H., Friedman, E.M., Davidson, R., & Singer, B. (2006). Psychological well-being and ill-being: do they have distinct or mirrored biological correlates? Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics, 75, 85-95.

Friedman, E.M., Hayney, M.S., Love, G.D., Urry, H.L., Rosenkranz, M.A., Davidson, R.J., Singer, B.H., & Ryff, C.D. (2005). Social relationships, sleep quality, and interleukin-6 in aging women. PNAS, 102, 18757-18762.

Ryff, C.D., Singer, B., & Love, G.D. (2004). Positive health: connecting well-being with biology. Philosophical Transactions Royal Society London B (Online).

Kwan, C.M.L., Love, G.D., Ryff, C.D., & Essex, M.J. (2003). The role of self-enhancing evaluations in a successful life transition. Psychology and Aging, 18(1), 3-12.

Hayney, M.S., Love, G.D., Carlberg, B.M., Buck, J.M. & Muller, D. (2003). Tetanus Seroprevalence among farmers: A preliminary study. The Journal of Rural Health, 19(2), 109-112.

Hayney, M.S., Love, G.D., Buck, J. M., Ryff, C.D., Singer, B., & Muller, D. (2003). The association between psychosocial factors and vaccine induced-Ccytokine production. Vaccine, 21, 2428-243.

Kling, K.C., Ryff, C.D., Love, G., & Essex, M. (2003). Exploring the influence of personality on depressive symptoms and self-esteem across a significant life transition. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85, 922-932.

Seeman, T.E., Singer, B.H., Ryff, C.D., Love, G.D., & Levy-Storms, L. (2002). Social relationships, gender, and allostatic load across two age cohorts. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64, 395-406.

Ryff, C.D., Singer, B., Wing, E., & Love, G.D. (2001). Elective affinities and uninvited agonies: Mapping emotion with significant others onto health. In C.D. Ryff & B. Singer (Eds.), Emotion, social relationships and health. New York: Oxford University Press.

Ryff, C.D., Singer, B., Love, G.D., & Essex, M.J. (1998). Resilience in adulthood and later life: Defining features and dynamic processes. In J. Lomranz (Ed.), Handbook of aging and mental health. New York: Plenum.

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