Psychosocial distress and inflammation: Which way does causality flow?

This study queried causal direction in linkages of inflammation with psychosocial distress. Data were from the 2005–2006 and 2010–2011 waves of the U.S. National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project. Inflammation was indicated by C-reactive protein, and distress by depression, anxiety, as well as stress. Autoregressive cross-lagged panel models were used to examine causal direction. Rather than being an outcome of psychosocial distress,...