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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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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