Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Segerstrom SC, Miller GE. Psychol Bull. 2004 Jul;130(4):601-30.
Abstract: The present report meta-analyzes more than 300 empirical articles describing a relationship between psychological stress and parameters of the immune system in human participants. Acute stressors (lasting minutes) were associated with potentially adaptive upregulation of some parameters of natural immunity and downregulation of some functions of specific immunity. Brief naturalistic stressors (such as exams) tended to suppress cellular immunity while preserving humoral immunity. Chronic stressors were associated with suppression of both cellular and humoral measures. Effects of event sequences varied according to the kind of event (trauma vs. loss). Subjective reports of stress generally did not associate with immune change. In some cases, physical vulnerability as a function of age or disease also increased vulnerability to immune change during stressors.
What is this? A meta-analysis is when the comprehensive group of studies on a particular subject is reported on. In other words, all of the studies that have been done on a specific subject are looked at in a methodical way in order to make a conclusion about what the research shows. Then a result is described based on looking at the sum of the results of all of the studies in the analysis.
What does it say? This study says that mental stress affects the immune system. While acute mental stressors were shown to have variable affects on different parts of the immune system, chronic stress did not. Chronic mental stress showed a decrease in the immune function of the people who experienced it.
What do I do now? Stress, and mental stress in particular, is unavoidable. We all will experience various types of stress throughout our lives. The types of stress, the amount of stress, and what you do in response to the stress in your life will determine if you become healthier or sicker. On September 30th, we will be teaching our Well People Move Advanced Workshop in our office. You will learn how movement is the antidote to stress. Make sure that you sign up at the front desk and attend!
What other resources do you suggest? Also see the Healthy Mental Attitude Workshop and the Living and Loving Unconditionally Workshop in the Lending Library.
Who do I give this to? People who need help coping with mental stress, and have concerns about their immune system for this upcoming cold and flu season. In other words, everyone you know.
