- 期刊
社會支持與認知功能之關聯
The Association between Social Support and Cognitive Function
摘要
社會支持與認知功能對個體存活、生理健康、心理安適與疾病癒後恢復有所影響，皆為臨床醫學的重要議題。目前僅少數研究探討兩者之關聯，且其生物醫學機制尚不明瞭。我們回顧十六篇實證研究與探討生物醫學機制的文獻，其中十一篇研究提供部分支持，五篇研究提供支持證據，顯示社會支持與認知功能之間有所相關。現行方法學上的限制，例如缺乏標準化工具，可能造成了不一致的發現。基於文獻回顧，我們推論下視丘－腦下垂體－腎上腺軸系統可能是壓力下的中介機制，而多巴胺與血清素系統則在一般狀況下與社會支持及認知功能有所關聯。文獻回顧支持社會支持與認知功能可透過中央神經系統的生物醫學機制而互相影響。此關聯對健康及疾病癒後相當重要。然其間之生物醫學機制尚待實證研究加以釐清。
並列摘要
Social support and cognitive function, which may influence survival, physical health, mental wellbeing and recovery of individuals, are important issues for clinical practitioners. Limited research is available on the association between social support and cognitive function, and any underlying biomedical mechanisms associated with the relationship remains unclear. We reviewed sixteen empirical studies that discuss the underling biomedical mechanisms. Eleven studies provided partial support for and five studies provided support for an association between social support and cognitive function. Based on the above, the hypothesis that social support and cognitive function are associated is well supported. Methodological limitations, such as lack of a standardized measurement, are able to explain contradictions among the findings. We propose that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may be the mediator between social support and cognitive function under stressful situations, while the dopaminergic and serotoninergic systems may be associated with social support and cognitive function under routine situations. Thus it is suggested that social support and cognitive function are associated via mechanisms within the central nervous system, and these mechanisms may explain the mutual influence and interaction. We stress that the association between social support and cognitive function is likely to be important when carrying out health promotion and should be acknowledged by clinical practitioners. Future studies are needed to identify and clarify the nature of the postulated underlying biomedical mechanisms.