Differential effects of social versus monetary incentives on inhibitory control under acute inflammation.

While the impact of chronic, low-grade inflammation on cognitive functioning is documented in the context of neurodegenerative disease, less is known about the association between acute increases in inflammation and cognitive functioning in daily life. This study investigated how changes in interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were associated with performance on an inhibitory control task, the go/no-go task. We further examined whether the opportunity to earn different incentive types (social or monetary) and magnitudes (high or low) was associated with differential performance on the task, depending on IL-6 levels. Using a within-participant design, individuals completed an incentivized go/no-go task before and after receiving the annual influenza vaccine. Multilevel logistic regressions were performed on the trial-level data (Nobs = 30,528). For no-go trials, we did not find significant associations between IL and 6 reactivity between the sessions and changes in trial accuracy. For go trials, we found significant differences in the associations between IL and 6 reactivity and changes in accuracy from session 1 to session 2 as a function of the incentive condition. Notably, greater IL-6 reactivity was consistently associated with fewer omission errors (i.e., greater accuracy on go trials) on high-magnitude social incentives (i.e., viewing a picture of a close-other picture) when compared to both low-magnitude social and high-magnitude monetary incentives. Together, these results suggest that mild fluctuations in inflammation might alter the valuation of an incentive, and possibly a shift toward devoting greater attentional resources when a large social incentive is on the line. Overall, this study sheds light on how everyday, low-grade fluctuations in inflammation may influence cognitive abilities essential for daily life and effective inhibitory control.

Higher interleukin-6 is associated with greater momentary social connection in close relationships in daily life.

Recent evidence has documented associations between higher levels of inflammation and social approach behaviors toward close others in laboratory-based tasks. Yet it is unknown if this translates to interactions with close others in daily life. Given that momentary experiences of social connection have both relational and health consequences, this is a critical gap in our knowledge. To address the association between inflammation and momentary social connection experiences in close relationships, 55 participants provided blood samples on two consecutive days, which were assayed for circulating levels of the inflammatory marker interleukin-6 (IL-6). After providing the first blood sample, participants received the annual influenza vaccine as a mild inflammatory challenge. Participants also reported on cognitive, affective, and behavioral indicators of social connection with a specific close other multiple times across the two study days. Results indicated that levels of IL-6 were positively associated with temporally-proximal indicators of momentary social connection with a close other. Specifically, higher levels of IL-6 were associated with greater feelings of comfort from the close other, greater desire to be near them, and higher reported relationship quality. Greater IL-6 reactivity to the vaccine was only associated with increased reported relationship quality. These data add to the existing literature suggesting that higher levels of IL-6 may motivate social approach toward a close other, extending evidence to now include momentary social connection experiences in daily life.

Stamp Out Stigma: a national campaign to decrease stigma and increase behavioral health in fire service.

Firefighters are at risk for behavioral health problems; however, mental health stigma is a barrier to seeking treatment. Although effective treatments exist, many firefighters report that internal stigma prohibits presentation for effective care. This study aimed to decrease stigma about behavioral health in fire service through the development and delivery of a peer-led anti-stigma intervention campaign called Stamp Out Stigma (SOS). SOS consisted of three related phases. During Phase 1 (n = 12), we produced testimonials and piloted the videos with firefighters to determine which were most compelling. During Phase 2 (n = 23), we beta-tested our training curriculum with two departments, resulting in a significant decrease in internalized stigma but not in self-stigma. During Phase 3 (n = 73), we presented the curriculum to two cohorts of firefighters. Participation in the SOS workshop was associated with a significant decrease in firefighters' self-stigma from pre-, M = 22.7, SD = 6.3, to post-workshop, M = 20.8, SD = 5.5, t(66) = 3.2, p = 0.002. Participation in the SOS workshop was associated with a significant decrease in firefighters' internalized stigma, M = 2.0, SD = 0.5, to post-workshop, M = 1.8, SD = 0.4, t(66) = 2.8, p = 0.007. The SOS approach to stigma reduction is promising for modifying negative attitudes toward mental health and treatment seeking among professional firefighters.

Brain-body pathways linking racism and health.

Racial disparities in health are a major public health problem in the United States, especially when comparing chronic disease morbidity and mortality for Black versus White Americans. These health disparities are primarily due to insidious anti-Black racism that permeates American history, current culture and institutions, and interpersonal interactions. But how does racism get under the skull and the skin to influence brain and bodily processes that impact the health of Black Americans? In the present article, we present a model describing the possible neural and inflammatory mechanisms linking racism and health. We hypothesize that racism influences neural activity and connectivity in the salience and default mode networks of the brain and disrupts interactions between these networks and the executive control network. This pattern of neural functioning in turn leads to greater sympathetic nervous system signaling, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, and increased expression of genes involved in inflammation, ultimately leading to higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the body and brain. Over time, these neural and physiological responses can lead to chronic physical and mental health conditions, disrupt well-being, and cause premature mortality. Given that research in this area is underdeveloped to date, we emphasize opportunities for future research that are needed to build a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the brain-body pathways linking anti-Black racism and health. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Career versus volunteer firefighters: Differences in perceived availability and barriers to behavioral health care.

Due to occupational stress and exposure to potentially traumatic events, firefighters are at an increased risk for the development of many behavioral health conditions. While volunteer and career firefighters represent two distinct subgroups, little research has examined differences in the availability of, and barriers to, behavioral health care between these populations. This study examined perceived availability and barriers to behavioral health care services among 2,156 career and 227 volunteer firefighters. Volunteer firefighters were less likely to report availability of drug and alcohol or family and couple services, but more likely to report availability of a trained peer support system and follow-up care compared to career firefighters. Volunteer firefighters were over five times more likely to consider cost a barrier to accessing behavioral health services compared to career firefighters; however, they were less likely to report lack of support from leadership, fear of breach of confidentiality, and clinicians who are unaware of work culture as barriers. Volunteer and career firefighters were equally likely to report stigma as a barrier. These findings have important implications for understanding how to strengthen departmental resources and to design targeted interventions to increase access to behavioral health services. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).