Stress & immune system

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  • Created by: tannyraqq
  • Created on: 16-03-15 17:29
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  • Stress & The immune system
    • Kiecolt-Glaser: short-term stress
      • PROCEDURES:
        • Natural Experiment
        • 2 Blood Samples
          • One month before exams (low stress)
          • During exams (high stress)
        • Immune system functioning = measuring T Cell activity from blood samples
        • Pp's completed questionnaire = measure other life stressors experiencing
      • AIM: does short-term stress have an effect on the functioning of the immune system?
      • RESULTS:
        • T CELL activity low in second blood sample (during exams)
          • Suggests = short-term, stressors reduce immune system functioning = increasing vulnerability to illness.
    • Marucha
      • PROCEDURES:
        • 'punch biopsy' in mouth of students
          • during the summer holidays or three days before exams
      • RESULTS:
        • wounds before exams = 40% longer to heal than during holidays
    • EVALUATION
      • Stress + Illness = not simple relationship
        • LAZARUS
          • 1. Health affected y many factors by many different factors
          • 2. Health is quite stable & slow to change = difficult to say stressors caused change in health
          • 3. Showing stress affects long-term health = continuous measurement over time
            • expensive & impractical = research investigate short period of time
      • stress sometimes enhances the immune system
        • short-term stress = doesn't always decrease immune system functioning
      • Research support
        • Segerstrom & Miller
          • meta-analysis
            • 293 studies over past 30 years
          • short-term (acute stress) = boost immune system = preparing for infection & other challenges
          • long-term (chronic stress) = suppression of immune system

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