Abstract
BackgroundPsychological stress and negative mood have been related to increased vulnerability to influenza-like illness (ILI). This prospective study re-evaluated the predictive value of perceived stress for self-reported ILI. We additionally explored the role of the negative affectivity and social inhibition traits.MethodsIn this study, 5,404 respondents from the general population were assessed in terms of perceived stress, personality, and control variables (vaccination, vitamin use, exercise, etc.). ILI were registered weekly using self-report measures during a follow-up period of four weeks.ResultsMultivariable logistic regression analysis on ILI was performed to test the predictive power of stress and personality. In this model, negative affectivity (OR = 1.05, p = 0.009), social inhibition (OR = 0.97, p = 0.011), and perceived stress (OR = 1.03, p = 0.048) predicted ILI reporting. Having a history of asthma (OR = 2.33, p = < 0.0001) was also associated with ILI reporting. Older age was associated with less self-reported ILI (OR = 0.98, P = 0.017).ConclusionElderly and socially inhibited persons tend to report less ILI as compared to their younger and less socially inhibited counterparts. In contrast, asthma, trait negative affectivity, and perceived stress were associated with higher self-report of ILI. Our results demonstrate the importance of including trait markers in future studies examining the relation between stress and self-report symptom measures.
Highlights
Psychological stress and negative mood have been related to increased vulnerability to influenza-like illness (ILI)
Cohen et al.[4,7,8] have made some great efforts to unravel the precise nature of the relation between psychological stress, i.e., perceived stress, and susceptibility to upper respiratory illness
In his experimental inoculation trials, he repeatedly demonstrated that psychological stress is associated with increased risk for developing respiratory illness for persons intentionally exposed to a common cold virus, that the longer the duration of the stressor the greater the risk, and that the link between stress and susceptibility may be mediated by stress-induced disruption of the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines [4,7,8]
Summary
Psychological stress and negative mood have been related to increased vulnerability to influenza-like illness (ILI). From an etiological point of view, it is clear that whereas the pathogen should be considered as a necessary but not sufficient (e.g., dependent on its virulence) factor, psychosocial factors are neither necessary nor sufficient The latter factors are rather hypothesized to affect the vulnerability of the host, and in such way contributing to increased risk of infectious disease. Cohen et al.[4,7,8] have made some great efforts to unravel the precise nature of the relation between psychological stress, i.e., perceived stress, and susceptibility to upper respiratory illness In his experimental inoculation trials, he repeatedly demonstrated that psychological stress is associated with increased risk for developing respiratory illness for persons intentionally exposed to a common cold virus, that the longer the duration of the stressor the greater the risk, and that the link between stress and susceptibility may be mediated by stress-induced disruption of the regulation of proinflammatory cytokines [4,7,8]
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