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Stress and IllnessStress and Illness
Stress
Direct biological effects e.g. physical strain, hormonal changes
Maladaptive coping behaviour e.g. smoking, drinking alcohol
Emotionally mediated effects on diet and activity level
Increased Risk of Disease
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The Immune SystemThe Immune System
Structures and Structures and mechanisms that mechanisms that allow the body to allow the body to resist and fight off resist and fight off infection by:infection by: BacteriaBacteria VirusesViruses
Also helps prevent Also helps prevent the formation and the formation and growth of tumoursgrowth of tumours
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Stress & Immune FunctionStress & Immune Function
Stress may adversely affect immune Stress may adversely affect immune functioning through:functioning through: Diversion of energy resources away from Diversion of energy resources away from
maintaining immunitymaintaining immunity Impact of stress hormones on immune Impact of stress hormones on immune
processesprocesses Maladaptive coping behavioursMaladaptive coping behaviours
Evidence that all three play a partEvidence that all three play a part
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Stress & Immune FunctionStress & Immune Function
Onset Moderately prolonged Chronic
Duration of Stressor
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100%
Merson (2001)
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Stress & Immune FunctionStress & Immune Function
Cohen & Herbert (1996)Cohen & Herbert (1996) Stress associated with increased susceptibility to Stress associated with increased susceptibility to
cold, flu, herpes virus, chickenpoxcold, flu, herpes virus, chickenpox
Bartrop et al (1977)Bartrop et al (1977) Immune suppression followed loss of intimate Immune suppression followed loss of intimate
relationship through death or divorcerelationship through death or divorce
Levy et al (1989)Levy et al (1989) PPs who scored high on a scale of daily hassles had PPs who scored high on a scale of daily hassles had
lower natural killer (immune) cell activitylower natural killer (immune) cell activity
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Stress & Immune FunctionStress & Immune Function
Evidence supports a weak link between Evidence supports a weak link between stress and immune functioningstress and immune functioning
The relationship is mediated by:The relationship is mediated by: Personality & coping stylePersonality & coping style Social supportSocial support LifestyleLifestyle
Compared to impact of e.g. age, genes, Compared to impact of e.g. age, genes, nutrition stress is relatively unimportantnutrition stress is relatively unimportant
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