Date of Award
Spring 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
College
College of Science and Health
First Advisor
Susan Tran
Abstract
There is a wealth of previous research demonstrating that increased levels of social support are associated with mental health benefits, with several potential pathways supported, including social support leading to increased emotional comfort and resilience (Mohan et al., 2024). However, research also demonstrates that increased social support is associated with numerous physical health benefits as well, including lowered risk of chronic disease development and longer lifespans (Hale et al., 2005). But there seems to be a gap in research regarding how social support creates this positive physiological effect. The present study aimed to address this gap and investigate the potential mechanism that branches this psychosocial and biological relationship. This study analyzed the relationship between social support and somatic health symptoms and hypothesized that both cortisol and cytokines are both mediators in this relationship. A sample of 84 emerging adults completed various measures, including social support and health questionnaires, and provided salivary samples to assess these variables. Results demonstrated that social support did not correlate with somatic health symptoms, and these biomarkers did not mediate this relationship, although the relationship between social support and cortisol approached significance. Social support was negatively correlated with depression and general distress, distress was positively correlated with cytokine IL-6 levels and anxious arousal, and anxious arousal was positively correlated with somatic health symptoms. Taken altogether, it seems that while stress, inflammation, and mental health factors play a role in this relationship, none of the study variables were able to fully unravel the immense intricacies of the relationship between social support and health.
Copyright
Copyright © 2026 Autumn Sharon Rajcevich Schwer
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Rajcevich Schwer, Autumn Sharon, "The Impact of Social Support on Somatic Health Symptoms in Emerging Adults: Examining the Role of Cortisol and Cytokines" (2026). Theses and Dissertations from DePaul University. 99.
https://via.library.depaul.edu/theses-dissertations/99