The Mind-Body Connection in Arthritis: 

The Close Relationships and Arthritis Studies

Shelley Kasle, Ph.D. Principal Investigator

Social Relationships and the Mind-Body Connection

Social relationships have long-term implications for health because of their influences on behaviors, thoughts and emotions. For example, friends or partners might influence us to improve our diets, to exercise, or to adhere to medication regimens. This mechanism of social support’s influence on health is called a “behavioral pathway.” However, another way that friends and partners can influence health is through their impact on our thoughts and feelings. This is because thoughts and feelings have direct consequences for stress responses and neuroendocrines that regulate cardiovascular and immune function. This mechanism for social support’s influence on health is called a “biological pathway.” The biological pathway is what we usually mean when we talk about a “mind-body connection” in health.

Arthritis and the Mind-Body Connection

Mind-body connections probably play their largest roles in health conditions that are strongly influenced by stress responses and immune function. Arthritis conditions that fit this description include Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Fibromyalgia (FM). FM is a chronic pain syndrome whose onset and symptom severity have been associated with stress episodes. RA is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system, when activated, attacks joint tissues. Stress episodes, which activate the immune system, are associated with disease “flares” for RA patients, during which their joints become painful and swollen due to the immune activation.

Close Relationships and Arthritis Studies

More understanding of the mind-body connection in arthritis could benefit patients by helping clinical researchers design better treatments. These treatments might include education or supportive programs to increase those relationships qualities that are most supportive of good health in FM and RA. Additionally, treatments might include new drugs or supplements based on the naturally-occurring neuroendocrines found to mediate links between positive relationships and better health in FM and RA patients.

Dr. Shelley Kasle conducts the Close Relationships and Arthritis Studies to increase our understanding of the behavioral and biological “active ingredients” of positive relationships. One such quality is “mutuality,” defined as the reciprocal sharing of thoughts and feelings in a close relationship – truly wanting to know where each person is coming from, and feeling validated and empowered by the sharing and understanding.

Dr. Kasle measures mutuality as participants’ ratings of how often they and their close others or partners react with interest, empathy and openness when they talk about things that are important to them. Although interest, validation and empowerment are components of mutuality, Dr. Kasle notes that people in highly mutual relationships are authentic with each other. “They can be themselves all the time and they can disagree without jeopardizing their closeness.” She adds, “Mutuality is not equivalent to love, since friends or partners might adore each other and still not converse in ways that fit the definition of mutuality.” Dr. Kasle also measures partner supportiveness and conflict, as well as social support from non-household relationships.

Dr. Kasle’s studies of the mind-body connection in arthritis have been funded by the Arthritis Foundation, the American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation, and the David C. and Lura M. Lovell Family Foundation.

If you would like more information about past studies of RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS patients, please click this link to contact Dr. Kasle.

 

If you would like information about a new study of FIBROMYALGIA patients that is underway, please click this link.