Negative affect, absorption, and immunity

Shea, John D.; Burton, Robert C.; Girgis, Afaf

doi:10.1016/0031-9384(93)90138-6

Cited by 29 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Both Sense of Coherence and Optimism are related to more positive health outcomes (Antonovsky, 1993;Lutgendorf et al, 1999;Scheier et al, 1994). Optimism is described as a person's positive outlook toward life events and is associated with improved immune function and lower scores on Neuroticism (Scheier et al, 1994;Segerstrom et al, 1998;Shea et al, 1993). A person high on Sense of Coherence finds life to be understandable, manageable and meaningful as compared with those low on Sense of Coherence who perceive life to be chaotic and out of their personal control.…”

Section: Individual Differences/psychological Resistance Factors and mentioning

confidence: 94%

Psychological resistance factors as predictors of general health status and physical symptom reporting

Ebert¹,

Tucker²,

Roth³

2002

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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The ability of the psychological resistance factors Sense of Coherence (SOC) and dispositional Optimism (LOT-R) to predict physical symptom reporting (PILL), psychological wellbeing and perceived general health (SF-36Ò ), over and above demographic variables (age, race, gender) and the 'Big Five' personality dimensions (NEO-FFIÒ ) was explored in a sample of 202 undergraduate students. Hierarchical regression analyses identified race, Neuroticism, and Extraversion as significant predictors of physical symptom reporting. Neuroticism, Sense of Coherence and Optimism were identified as significant predictors of psychological wellbeing. Only Sense of Coherence was a significant predictor of perceived general health. Coping was tested as a mediator using structural equation modeling. Avoidance coping, but not approach coping, mediated the relationship between Sense of Coherence and psychological wellbeing and general health. Coping did not mediate the relationship between Neuroticism and/or race and physical symptom reporting. The hypothesis that Sense of Coherence contributes uniquely to perceived health was supported.

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Section: Individual Differences/psychological Resistance Factors and mentioning

confidence: 94%

Psychological resistance factors as predictors of general health status and physical symptom reporting

Ebert¹,

Tucker²,

Roth³

2002

Psychology, Health & Medicine

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“…The effects of absorption on changes in percentages of lymphocytes and neutrophil cells after the stressor, suggest that this effect also includes the reactivity of the immune system. We are only aware of two published reports on the influence of absorption on immune measures [29, 30], and neither of the reports investigated the influence of absorption on the immune reactivity to stress. However, Shea et al [29]did find that high-absorption subjects had lower delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to Candida antigen, which could perhaps be taken as a possible indicator of a stress-related immunosuppressive effect.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased Thymidylate Synthase mRNA Concentration in Blood Leukocytes following an Experimental Stressor

Ehrnrooth¹,

Zacharia

Svendsen

et al. 2002

Psychother Psychosom

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Background: While it is well documented that immune responses, e.g. proliferative responses, can be influenced by psychosocial factors, e.g. stress, less is known about the biological mechanisms mediating such influences. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of an experimental stressor on mRNA levels in peripheral blood leukocytes of thymidylate synthase (TS), a gene necessary for cell division, while investigating possible individual differences in stress reactivity. Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects were investigated under three experimental conditions: (1) exposure to a computerized mental stressor; (2) relaxation, and (3) control. Measurements included TS mRNA levels, total leukocyte number, leukocyte subtypes, and serum cortisol before (baseline), immediately after, and 1 h after each experimental condition. Results: While no significant differences were found between experimental conditions at baseline in cortisol (p = 0.9) or TS mRNA levels (p = 0.1), significantly higher TS mRNA expression was found immediately after stress compared to pretreatment levels (p < 0.02). Changes in cortisol levels indicated an effect of the experimental stressor, with higher cortisol levels seen immediately after stress as compared to both relaxation (p < 0.01) and control (p < 0.01). Subjects who scored above the median on the Tellegen Absorption Scale showed significantly (p < 0.05) greater increases in cortisol and percentage of lymphocytes and significantly greater decreases in percentage of neutrophil cells after stress. Conclusion: The results suggest that TS mRNA levels in peripheral leukocytes may be sensitive to mental stress and confirm previous findings indicating that subjects scoring high on the personality trait of absorption exhibit greater physiological stress reactivity.

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“…Reduced rates of some circulating lymphocyte subsets have been described in alexithymic women [17,18] and men [19] . T cell counts appeared to be low in subjects classified as repressors of negative affect [20] , an alexithymia-related personality characteristic. Alexithymia has been associated with lower stimulated production of the anti-HIV ␤ -chemokine MIP-1 ␣ , suggesting a poorer prognosis [21] .…”

Section: The Relationship Between Alexithymia and Circulating Cytokinmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Relationship between Alexithymia and Circulating Cytokine Levels in Subjects Undergoing Upper Endoscopy

Mandarelli

Tarsitani

Ippoliti³

et al. 2010

Neuroimmunomodulation

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Objective: Despite emerging evidence suggesting a link between alexithymia and immune function, previous studies yielded contrasting results. The proposed link between alexithymia and immune function remains controversial as does the role, in this relationship, of anxiety, depression and subjective stress. The aim of the study is to investigate the possible association between alexithymia and circulating levels of cytokines in subjects awaiting an upper endoscopy, a stressful procedure, controlling for anxiety levels, depression and subjective stress. Methods: Participants were recruited from among consecutive patients referred for routine diagnostic upper endoscopy. All participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Stress-related Vulnerability Scale. Serum levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. Results: Of the 90 subjects initially approached, 68 completed the study. The TAS-20 identified 22 alexithymic and 36 non-alexithymic patients. ELISA detected significantly lower IL-4 and IL-6 concentrations in alexithymic than in non-alexithymic patients. According to multiple linear regression analysis, alexithymia predicted low IL-4 and IL-6 levels in the sample overall, independently of stress, anxiety, depression and other possible confounders. No between-group differences were found in serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Conclusion: These findings argue against an isolated shift towards pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory mediators and suggest that circulating cytokine profiles differ in alexithymic and non-alexithymic subjects.

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Negative affect, absorption, and immunity

Cited by 29 publications

References 33 publications

Psychological resistance factors as predictors of general health status and physical symptom reporting

Psychological resistance factors as predictors of general health status and physical symptom reporting

Increased Thymidylate Synthase mRNA Concentration in Blood Leukocytes following an Experimental Stressor

The Relationship between Alexithymia and Circulating Cytokine Levels in Subjects Undergoing Upper Endoscopy

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