Mental health issues are among the primary contributors to the global disease burden. Chronic systemic inflammation is a major suspected mechanism, as poor mental health has been linked to the elevated production of inflammatory molecules, which may in turn adversely affect health. While mental health is often considered a risk factor of its own, it may also reflect underlying adverse socioeconomic conditions. Studies have highlighted a social gradient in inflammatory biomarkers, showing that individuals with lower income, education, and occupational status are more likely to have elevated systemic inflammation biomarkers.

The precise factors explaining this social gradient in inflammation remain unclear. Poor social circumstances can lead to poor mental health, which might in turn affect biological pathways. Additionally, it is plausible that individuals facing challenging social circumstances may have fewer resources available to manage mental health issues, which can, in turn, affect their physiology. Understanding the interplay between mental health, social circumstances, and inflammation is further complicated by developmental influences, where early life stress and social environment may have a significant impact on health in later life.

To address these gaps, this project will leverage cutting-edge statistical methods, allowing us to draw new insights into how mental health and social circumstances jointly contribute to systemic inflammation across the life course. We will analyse data from three British cohort studies, each covering different age ranges and capturing multiple instances of mental health evaluations, socioeconomic indicators, biomarkers of inflammation, and other influences.