SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND IMMUNE PROCESSES IN HIV-SEROPOSITIVE GAY ANDBISEXUAL MEN

This three-year longitudinal study assessed the association between so cial relationships and human immunodeficiency virus (HN) progression i n individuals at risk for morbidity and mortality due to acquired immu ne deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Two-hundred five HIV seropositive men w ithout AIDS completed measures of social integration and loneliness at baseline. Blood samples used to assess CD4 T-lymphocyte levels were c ollected at baseline and at six-month intervals for a three-year follo w-up period Contrary to expectation, lower levels of baseline loneline ss predicted more rapid declines in CD4 levels over the follow-up peri od. This association was independent of baseline CD4 values, negative affect and health practices. A series of mediational analyses revealed that sexual behavior; medication use, bereavement, coping, and a numb er of other variables were not mechanisms through which loneliness aff ected the immune system. Loneliness was not associated with time to AI DS diagnosis or time to AIDS-related mortality. These findings are con sistent with the emerging view that social relationships can have dele terious, as well as protective, influences on health outcomes.