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PMID: 11523331 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Perceived stress and cellular immunity: when coping counts.

Journal of behavioral medicine ·Vol. 24 ·No. 4 ·2001-08-00 ·Pages 323-39

Stowell JR, Kiecolt-Glaser JK, Glaser R

Abstract

This cross-sectional study investigated whether active and avoidance coping methods were differentially related to immune function depending on stress level. Perceived stress and coping method were assessed in 173 healthy older adults and related to the number and percentage of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes as well as the proliferative response of peripheral blood leukocytes to phytohemagluttinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A). Both active and avoidance coping significantly interacted with perceived stress on proliferative responses to both mitogens. Higher levels of active coping were significantly related to a more vigorous proliferative response to PHA and Con A, particularly at high stress levels. At low stress levels, active coping was not significantly related to proliferative responses, whereas avoidance coping was significantly associated with a greater proliferative response to Con A. These results suggest that the relationships between certain coping methods and immune function depend on perceived stress level.

MeSH Terms
Adaptation, Psychological Avoidance Learning Awareness Caregivers/psychology Chronic Disease Concanavalin A/metabolism Cross-Sectional Studies Family Health Follow-Up Studies Health Status Humans Leukocytes/metabolism Phytohemagglutinins/metabolism Stress, Psychological/immunology,psychology T-Lymphocytes/immunology
Chemicals
Phytohemagglutinins Concanavalin A
Authors & Affiliations
3 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Stowell J R
Department of Psychiatry, Ohio State University, USA. [email protected]
Kiecolt-Glaser J K
Glaser R
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Article Info
Journal
Journal of behavioral medicine
Abbr.
J Behav Med
ISSN
0160-7715
DOI
10.1023/a:1010630801589
Email
[email protected]
Published
2001-08-00
Pages
323-39
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
7807105
Subset
IM
Grants
NCI NIH HHS · CA 16058 · United States
NCRR NIH HHS · M01 RR0034 · United States
NIA NIH HHS · P01 AG09632 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R01 MH50538 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R37 MH42096 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1010630801589 View journal details
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