Stress Maladaptive coping behaviour e g smoking drinking

Stress Maladaptive coping behaviour e. g. smoking, drinking alcohol Emotionally mediated effects on diet and activity level Increased Risk of Disease Direct biological effects e. g. physical strain, hormonal changes www. psychlotron. org. uk Stress and Illness

n Bacteria Viruses Also helps prevent the formation and growth of tumours www. psychlotron. org. uk n T-Lymphocyte Structures and mechanisms that allow the body to resist and fight off infection by: Phagocyte The Immune System

Stress & Immune Function n Diversion of energy resources away from maintaining immunity Impact of stress hormones on immune processes Maladaptive coping behaviours Evidence that all three play a part www. psychlotron. org. uk Stress may adversely affect immune functioning through:

Onset Merson (2001) Moderately prolonged Duration of Stressor www. psychlotron. org. uk Immune Functioning 100% Stress & Immune Function Chronic

Stress & Immune Function Cohen & Herbert (1996) n Stress associated with increased susceptibility to cold, flu, herpes virus, chickenpox Bartrop et al (1977) Immune suppression followed loss of intimate relationship through death or divorce Levy et al (1989) n PPs who scored high on a scale of daily hassles had lower natural killer (immune) cell activity www. psychlotron. org. uk n

Stress & Immune Function n Personality & coping style Social support Lifestyle Compared to impact of e. g. age, genes, nutrition stress is relatively unimportant www. psychlotron. org. uk Evidence supports a weak link between stress and immune functioning The relationship is mediated by: