stress-related illness: the immune system

Stress related illness: the immune system

Short-term stressors: Examination stress

Kiecolt-Glaser et al 1984

• A natural experiment

• Investigating whether the stress of short-term stressors had an effect on the immune system, such as examinations and in this case on medical students.

• Blood samples taken one month before the examination = low stress

• Blood samples taken during the exam itself = high stress

• Immune system functioning measured by NK cell activity by taking blood samples

• Questionnaires were also given to participants to measure any other life stressors they may have.

   

Findings:

• NK cell activity was significantly reduced in the second blood sample…