BACKGROUND. It is not known whether psychological stress suppresses host resistance to infection. To investigate this issue, we prospectively studied the relation between psychological stress and the frequency of documented clinical colds among subjects intentionally exposed to respiratory viruses. METHODS. After completing questionnaires assessing degrees of psychological stress, 394 healthy subjects were given nasal drops containing one of five respiratory viruses (rhinovirus type 2, 9, or 14, respiratory syncytial virus, or coronavirus type 229E), and an additional 26 were given saline nasal drops. The subjects were then quarantined and monitored for the development of evidence of infection and symptoms. Clinical colds were defined as clinical symptoms in the presence of an infection verified by the isolation of virus or by an increase in the virus-specific antibody titer. RESULTS. The rates of both respiratory infection (P less than 0.005) and clinical colds (P less than 0.02) increased in a dose-response manner with increases in the degree of psychological stress. Infection rates ranged from approximately 74 percent to approximately 90 percent, according to levels of psychological stress, and the incidence of clinical colds ranged from approximately 27 percent to 47 percent. These effects were not altered when we controlled for age, sex, education, allergic status, weight, the season, the number of subjects housed together, the infectious status of subjects sharing the same housing, and virus-specific antibody status at base line (before challenge). Moreover, the associations observed were similar for all five challenge viruses. Several potential stress-illness mediators, including smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, diet, quality of sleep, white-cell counts, and total immunoglobulin levels, did not explain the association between stress and illness. Similarly, controls for personality variables (self-esteem, personal control, and introversion-extraversion) failed to alter our findings. CONCLUSIONS. Psychological stress was associated in a dose-response manner with an increased risk of acute infectious respiratory illness, and this risk was attributable to increased rates of infection rather than to an increased frequency of symptoms after infection.
Source Information
Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
This article has been cited by other articles:
Ebbesen, S.M.S., Zachariae, R., Mehlsen, M.Y., Thomsen, D., Hojgaard, A., Ottosen, L., Petersen, T., Ingerslev, H.J.
(2009). Stressful life events are associated with a poor in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome: a prospective study. Hum Reprod
24: 2173-2182
[Abstract][Full Text]
Boyce, W. T.
(2009). The Family Is (Still) the Patient. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
163: 768-770
[Full Text]
Gupta, A., Urquhart, D., Rosenthal, M.
(2009). Marked improvement in cystic fibrosis lung disease and nutrition following change in home environment. JRSM
102: 45-48
[Full Text]
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Alper, C. M., Janicki-Deverts, D., Turner, R. B.
(2009). Sleep Habits and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. Arch Intern Med
169: 62-67
[Abstract][Full Text]
Garrity, T. F., Prewitt, S. H., Joosen, M., Tindall, M. S., Webster, J. M., Leukefeld, C. G.
(2008). Baseline Subjective Stress Predicts 1-Year Outcomes Among Drug Court Clients. Int J Offender Ther Comp Criminol
52: 346-357
[Abstract]
Rugulies, R, Aust, B, Burr, H, Bultmann, U
(2008). Job insecurity, chances on the labour market and decline in self-rated health in a representative sample of the Danish workforce. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
62: 245-250
[Abstract][Full Text]
Wright, R. J., Subramanian, S.V.
(2007). Advancing a Multilevel Framework for Epidemiologic Research on Asthma Disparities. Chest
132: 757S-769S
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bellavite, P., Ortolani, R., Pontarollo, F., Pitari, G., Conforti, A.
(2007). Immunology and Homeopathy. 5. The Rationale of the 'Simile'. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
4: 149-163
[Abstract][Full Text]
Elovainio, M., Jokela, M., Kivimaki, M., Pulkki-Raback, L., Lehtimaki, T., Airla, N., Keltikangas-Jarvinen, L.
(2007). Genetic Variants in the DRD2 Gene Moderate the Relationship Between Stressful Life Events and Depressive Symptoms in Adults: Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. Psychosom. Med.
69: 391-395
[Abstract][Full Text]
Gee, G. C., Delva, J., Takeuchi, D. T.
(2007). Relationships Between Self-Reported Unfair Treatment and Prescription Medication Use, Illicit Drug Use, and Alcohol Dependence Among Filipino Americans. AJPH
97: 933-940
[Abstract][Full Text]
Wyman, P. A., Moynihan, J., Eberly, S., Cox, C., Cross, W., Jin, X., Caserta, M. T.
(2007). Association of Family Stress With Natural Killer Cell Activity and the Frequency of Illnesses in Children. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
161: 228-234
[Abstract][Full Text]
Kirby, E. D., Williams, V. P., Hocking, M. C., Lane, J. D., Williams, R. B.
(2006). Psychosocial Benefits of Three Formats of a Standardized Behavioral Stress Management Program. Psychosom. Med.
68: 816-823
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Alper, C. M., Doyle, W. J., Treanor, J. J., Turner, R. B.
(2006). Positive Emotional Style Predicts Resistance to Illness After Experimental Exposure to Rhinovirus or Influenza A Virus. Psychosom. Med.
68: 809-815
[Abstract][Full Text]
Muennig, P., Lubetkin, E., Jia, H., Franks, P.
(2006). Gender and the Burden of Disease Attributable to Obesity. AJPH
96: 1662-1668
[Abstract][Full Text]
Hadany, L., Beker, T., Eshel, I., Feldman, M. W
(2006). Why is stress so deadly? An evolutionary perspective. Proc R Soc B
273: 881-885
[Abstract][Full Text]
Vahtera, J., Kivimaki, M., Vaananen, A., Linna, A., Pentti, J., Helenius, H., Elovainio, M.
(2006). Sex differences in health effects of family death or illness: are women more vulnerable than men?. Psychosom. Med.
68: 283-291
[Abstract][Full Text]
Feldman, J. M., Siddique, M. I., Morales, E., Kaminski, B., Lu, S.-E., Lehrer, P. M.
(2005). Psychiatric Disorders and Asthma Outcomes Among High-Risk Inner-City Patients. Psychosom. Med.
67: 989-996
[Abstract][Full Text]
Shain, M.
(2004). The Duty to Prevent Emotional Harm at Work: Arguments from Science and Law, Implications for Policy and Practice. Bulletin of Science Technology Society
24: 305-315
[Abstract]
Sterzer, P., Wiegers, G. J., Reul, J. M. H. M.
(2004). Long-Term in Vivo Administration of Glucocorticoid Hormones Attenuates Their Capacity to Accelerate in Vitro Proliferation of Rat Splenic T Cells. Endocrinology
145: 3630-3638
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Turner, R. B., Alper, C. M., Skoner, D. P.
(2004). Childhood Socioeconomic Status and Host Resistance to Infectious Illness in Adulthood. Psychosom. Med.
66: 553-558
[Abstract][Full Text]
Costa Rosa, L. F. B. P.
(2004). Exercise as a Time-conditioning Effector in Chronic Disease: a Complementary Treatment Strategy. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
1: 63-70
[Abstract][Full Text]
Wright, R. J., Mitchell, H., Visness, C. M., Cohen, S., Stout, J., Evans, R., Gold, D. R.
(2004). Community Violence and Asthma Morbidity: The Inner-City Asthma Study. AJPH
94: 625-632
[Abstract][Full Text]
Rosenkranz, M. A., Jackson, D. C., Dalton, K. M., Dolski, I., Ryff, C. D., Singer, B. H., Muller, D., Kalin, N. H., Davidson, R. J.
(2003). Affective style and in vivo immune response: Neurobehavioral mechanisms. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
100: 11148-11152
[Abstract][Full Text]
Schattner, A.
(2003). The emotional dimension and the biological paradigm of illness: time for a change. QJM
96: 617-621
[Full Text]
Cohen, L., Fouladi, R. T., Babaian, R. J., Bhadkamkar, V. A., Parker, P. A., Taylor, C. C., Smith, M. A., Gritz, E. R., Basen-Engquist, K.
(2003). Cancer Worry Is Associated with Abnormal Prostate-specific Antigen Levels in Men Participating in a Community Screening Program. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev.
12: 610-617
[Abstract][Full Text]
Coker, A. L., Bond, S., Madeleine, M. M., Luchok, K., Pirisi, L.
(2003). Psychosocial Stress and Cervical Neoplasia Risk. Psychosom. Med.
65: 644-651
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Turner, R. B., Alper, C. M., Skoner, D. P.
(2003). Emotional Style and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. Psychosom. Med.
65: 652-657
[Abstract][Full Text]
Fortune, D. G., Richards, H. L., Kirby, B., McElhone, K., Markham, T., Rogers, S., Main, C. J., Griffiths, C. E. M.
(2003). Psychological Distress Impairs Clearance of Psoriasis in Patients Treated With Photochemotherapy. Arch Dermatol
139: 752-756
[Abstract][Full Text]
Barringer, T. A., Kirk, J. K., Santaniello, A. C., Foley, K. L., Michielutte, R.
(2003). Effect of a Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement on Infection and Quality of Life: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. ANN INTERN MED
138: 365-371
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lillberg, K., Verkasalo, P. K., Kaprio, J., Teppo, L., Helenius, H., Koskenvuo, M.
(2003). Stressful Life Events and Risk of Breast Cancer in 10,808 Women: A Cohort Study. Am J Epidemiol
157: 415-423
[Abstract][Full Text]
van der Ven, A., van Diest, R., Hamulyak, K., Maes, M., Bruggeman, C., Appels, A.
(2003). Herpes Viruses, Cytokines, and Altered Hemostasis in Vital Exhaustion. Psychosom. Med.
65: 194-200
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bosch, J. A., de Geus, E. J. C., Veerman, E. C. I., Hoogstraten, J., Nieuw Amerongen, A. V.
(2003). Innate Secretory Immunity in Response to Laboratory Stressors That Evoke Distinct Patterns of Cardiac Autonomic Activity. Psychosom. Med.
65: 245-258
[Abstract][Full Text]
Gidron, Y., Gilutz, H., Berger, R., Huleihel, M.
(2002). Molecular and cellular interface between behavior and acute coronary syndromes. Cardiovasc Res
56: 15-21
[Abstract][Full Text]
Dhabhar, F. S.
(2002). A Hassle a Day May Keep the Doctor Away: Stress and the Augmentation of Immune Function. Integr. Comp. Biol.
42: 556-564
[Abstract][Full Text]
Markovitz, J. H.
(2002). Resolved: Psychosocial Interventions Can Improve Clinical Outcomes in Organic Disease--Moderator Introduction. Psychosom. Med.
64: 549-551
[Full Text]
Relman, A. S., Angell, M.
(2002). Resolved: Psychosocial Interventions Can Improve Clinical Outcomes in Organic Disease (Con). Psychosom. Med.
64: 558-563
[Full Text]
Takkouche, B., Regueira-Mendez, C., Garcia-Closas, R., Figueiras, A., Gestal-Otero, J. J., Hernan, M. A.
(2002). Intake of Wine, Beer, and Spirits and the Risk of Clinical Common Cold. Am J Epidemiol
155: 853-858
[Abstract][Full Text]
Bilbo, S. D., Dhabhar, F. S., Viswanathan, K., Saul, A., Yellon, S. M., Nelson, R. J.
(2002). Short day lengths augment stress-induced leukocyte trafficking and stress-induced enhancement of skin immune function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
99: 4067-4072
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Hamrick, N., Rodriguez, M. S., Feldman, P. J., Rabin, B. S., Manuck, S. B.
(2002). Reactivity and Vulnerability to Stress-Associated Risk for Upper Respiratory Illness. Psychosom. Med.
64: 302-310
[Abstract][Full Text]
Matthews, K. A., Gump, B. B.
(2002). Chronic Work Stress and Marital Dissolution Increase Risk of Posttrial Mortality in Men From the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Arch Intern Med
162: 309-315
[Abstract][Full Text]
WRIGHT, R. J., COHEN, S., CAREY, V., WEISS, S. T., GOLD, D. R.
(2002). Parental Stress as a Predictor of Wheezing in Infancy . A Prospective Birth-Cohort Study. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.
165: 358-365
[Abstract][Full Text]
Redelmeier, D. A, Singh, S. M
(2001). Longevity of screenwriters who win an academy award: longitudinal study. BMJ
323: 1491-1496
[Abstract][Full Text]
Stalman, W A B, van Essen, G A, van der Graaf, Y
(2001). Determinants for the course of acute sinusitis in adult general practice patients. Postgrad. Med. J.
77: 778-782
[Abstract][Full Text]
Shain, M.
(2001). Returning to Work After Illness or Injury: The Role of Fairness. Bulletin of Science Technology Society
21: 361-368
[Abstract]
Klinnert, M. D., Nelson, H. S., Price, M. R., Adinoff, A. D., Leung, D. Y. M., Mrazek, D. A.
(2001). Onset and Persistence of Childhood Asthma: Predictors From Infancy. Pediatrics
108: e69-69
[Abstract][Full Text]
BENAVIDES, F. G, BENACH, J., MONCADA, S., VAHTERA, J., KIVIMÄKI, M.
(2001). Working conditions and sickness absence: a complex relation. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
55: 368-368
[Full Text]
SCHECHTER, M. S., SHELTON, B. J., MARGOLIS, P. A., FITZSIMMONS, S. C.
(2001). The Association of Socioeconomic Status with Outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis Patients in the United States. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.
163: 1331-1337
[Abstract][Full Text]
Waldstein, S. R., Neumann, S. A., Drossman, D. A., Novack, D. H.
(2001). Teaching Psychosomatic (Biopsychosocial) Medicine in United States Medical Schools: Survey Findings. Psychosom. Med.
63: 335-343
[Abstract][Full Text]
Logan, H. L., Lutgendorf, S., Kirchner, H. L., Rivera, E. M., Lubaroff, D.
(2001). Pain and Immunologic Response to Root Canal Treatment and Subsequent Health Outcomes. Psychosom. Med.
63: 453-462
[Abstract][Full Text]
MUNFORD, R. S., PUGIN, J.
(2001). Normal Responses to Injury Prevent Systemic Inflammation and Can Be Immunosuppressive. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.
163: 316-321
[Full Text]
Tausk, F. A., Nousari, H.
(2001). Stress and the Skin. Arch Dermatol
137: 78-82
[Full Text]
Elenkov, I. J., Wilder, R. L., Chrousos, G. P., Vizi, E. S.
(2000). The Sympathetic Nerve---An Integrative Interface between Two Supersystems: The Brain and the Immune System. Pharmacol. Rev.
52: 595-638
[Abstract][Full Text]
Chesnokova, V., Melmed, S.
(2000). Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Mediates the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Response to Inflammation. Endocrinology
141: 4032-4040
[Abstract][Full Text]
Evans, J., Hyndman, S., Stewart-Brown, S., Smith, D., Petersen, S.
(2000). An epidemiological study of the relative importance of damp housing in relation to adult health. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
54: 677-686
[Abstract][Full Text]
Temte, J. L.
(2000). A Family Physician's Perspective on Picornavirus Infections in Primary Care. Arch Fam Med
9: 921-922
[Full Text]
Gump, B. B., Matthews, K. A.
(2000). Are Vacations Good for Your Health? The 9-Year Mortality Experience After the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Psychosom. Med.
62: 608-612
[Abstract][Full Text]
Aronsson, G., Gustafsson, K., Dallner, M.
(2000). Sick but yet at work. An empirical study of sickness presenteeism. J. Epidemiol. Community Health
54: 502-509
[Abstract][Full Text]
Liebschutz, J. M., Feinman, G., Sullivan, L., Stein, M., Samet, J.
(2000). Physical and Sexual Abuse in Women Infected With the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Increased Illness and Health Care Utilization. Arch Intern Med
160: 1659-1664
[Abstract][Full Text]
Eells, T. D.
(2000). Can Therapy Affect Physical Health?. J. Psychother. Pract. Res.
9: 100-104
[Full Text]
Levenstein, S.
(2000). The Very Model of a Modern Etiology: A Biopsychosocial View of Peptic Ulcer. Psychosom. Med.
62: 176-185
[Abstract][Full Text]
Berntson, G. G., Cacioppo, J. T.
(2000). Psychobiology and Social Psychology: Past, Present, and Future. Pers Soc Psychol Rev
4: 3-15
[Abstract]
Petticrew, M., Hunter, D., Glaser, R., Rabin, B., Chesney, M., Cohen, S., Natelson, B.
(1999). Stress-Induced Immunomodulation. JAMA
282: 2209-2210
[Full Text]
Rutledge, T., Linden, W., Davies, R. F.
(1999). Psychological Risk Factors May Moderate Pharmacological Treatment Effects Among Ischemic Heart Disease Patients. Psychosom. Med.
61: 834-841
[Abstract][Full Text]
Merriam, P. A., Ockene, I. S., Hebert, J. R., Rosal, M. C., Matthews, C. E.
(1999). Seasonal Variation of Blood Cholesterol Levels: Study Methodology. J Biol Rhythms
14: 330-339
[Abstract]
Dyck, D. G., Short, R., Vitaliano, P. P.
(1999). Predictors of Burden and Infectious Illness in Schizophrenia Caregivers. Psychosom. Med.
61: 411-419
[Abstract][Full Text]
Glaser, R., Rabin, B., Chesney, M., Cohen, S., Natelson, B.
(1999). Stress-Induced Immunomodulation: Implications for Infectious Diseases?. JAMA
281: 2268-2270
[Full Text]
Thoresen, C. E.
(1999). Spirituality and Health: Is There a Relationship?. J Health Psychol
4: 291-300
[Abstract]
Theorell, T., Blomkvist, V., Lindh, G., Evengard, B.
(1999). Critical Life Events, Infections, and Symptoms During the Year Preceding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): An Examination of CFS Patients and Subjects With a Nonspecific Life Crisis. Psychosom. Med.
61: 304-310
[Abstract][Full Text]
Marnocha, S. K
(1999). Chronic stressors increased susceptibility to colds. Evid. Based Nurs.
2: 54-54
[Full Text]
Roubenoff, R., Skolnik, P. R., Shevitz, A., Snydman, L., Wang, A., Melanson, S., Gorbach, S.
(1999). Effect of a single bout of acute exercise on plasma human immunodeficiency virus RNA levels. J. Appl. Physiol.
86: 1197-1201
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P.
(1999). Psychological Stress, Cytokine Production, and Severity of Upper Respiratory Illness. Psychosom. Med.
61: 175-180
[Abstract][Full Text]
Dhabhar, F. S., McEwen, B. S.
(1999). Enhancing versus suppressive effects of stress hormones on skin immune function. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
96: 1059-1064
[Abstract][Full Text]
Stewart-Brown, S.
(1998). Emotional wellbeing and its relation to health. BMJ
317: 1608-1609
[Full Text]
Wright, R. J, Rodriguez, M., Cohen, S.
(1998). Review of psychosocial stress and asthma: an integrated biopsychosocial approach. Thorax
53: 1066-1074
[Full Text]
McAndrew, F. T., Akande, A., Turner, S., Sharma, Y.
(1998). A Cross-Cultural Ranking of Stressful Life Events in Germany, India, South Africa, and the United States. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology
29: 717-727
[Abstract]
Tausk, F. A.
(1998). Alternative Medicine: Is It All in Your Mind?. Arch Dermatol
134: 1422-1425
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cole, S. W., Korin, Y. D., Fahey, J. L., Zack, J. A.
(1998). Norepinephrine Accelerates HIV Replication Via Protein Kinase A-Dependent Effects on Cytokine Production. J. Immunol.
161: 610-616
[Abstract][Full Text]
Lengacher, C. A., Bennett, M., Gonzalez, L., Cox, C. M., Reintgen, D. S., Shons, A., Cantor, A., Djeu, J.
(1998). Psychoneuroimmunology and Immune System Link for Stress, Depression, Health Behaviors, and Breast Cancer. Complementary Health Practice Review
4: 95-108
[Abstract]
Padgett, D. A., Sheridan, J. F., Dorne, J., Berntson, G. G., Candelora, J., Glaser, R.
(1998). Social stress and the reactivation of latent herpes simplex virus type 1. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
95: 7231-7235
[Abstract][Full Text]
Noisakran, S., Halford, W. P., Veress, L., Carr, D. J. J.
(1998). Role of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis and IL-6 in Stress-Induced Reactivation of Latent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1. J. Immunol.
160: 5441-5447
[Abstract][Full Text]
McEwen, B. S.
(1998). Protective and Damaging Effects of Stress Mediators. NEJM
338: 171-179
[Full Text]
Davis, J. M., Kohut, M. L., Colbert, L. H., Jackson, D. A., Ghaffar, A., Mayer, E. P.
(1997). Exercise, alveolar macrophage function, and susceptibility to respiratory infection. J. Appl. Physiol.
83: 1461-1466
[Abstract][Full Text]
Montgomery, S. M, Bartley, M. J, Wilkinson, R. G
(1997). Family conflict and slow growth. Arch. Dis. Child.
77: 326-330
[Abstract][Full Text]
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Skoner, D. P., Rabin, B. S., Gwaltney, J. M. Jr
(1997). Social Ties and Susceptibility to the Common Cold. JAMA
277: 1940-1944
[Abstract]
Macko, R. F., Ameriso, S. F., Barndt, R., Clough, W., Weiner, J. M., Fisher, M.
(1996). Precipitants of Brain Infarction: Roles of Preceding Infection/Inflammation and Recent Psychological Stress. Stroke
27: 1999-2004
[Abstract][Full Text]
Caudell, K. A., Gallucci, B. B.
(1995). Neuroendocrine and Immunological Responses of Women to Stress. West J Nurs Res
17: 672-692
[Abstract]
McKay, D. A.
(1995). Stress, Illness, and the Physician. Arch Fam Med
4: 497-498
[Abstract]
Divale, W.
(1995). Cold Symptoms and Emotional Dissatisfaction Among Rural/Urban and Culturally Diverse High School Students. Cross-Cultural Research
29: 27-42
[Abstract]
McDonald, E. R., Wiedenfeld, S. A., Hillel, A., Carpenter, C. L., Walter, R. A.
(1994). Survival in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Role of Psychological Factors. Arch Neurol
51: 17-23
[Abstract]
McEwen, B. S., Stellar, E.
(1993). Stress and the Individual: Mechanisms Leading to Disease. Arch Intern Med
153: 2093-2101
[Abstract]
Adler, N. E., Boyce, W. T., Chesney, M. A., Folkman, S., Syme, S. L.
(1993). Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health: No Easy Solution. JAMA
269: 3140-3145
[Abstract]
Koss, M. P., Heslet, L.
(1992). Somatic Consequences of Violence Against Women. Arch Fam Med
1: 53-59
[Abstract]
Schwenk, T. L.
(1992). Family Medicine. JAMA
268: 356-358
[Abstract]
(1991). STRESS AND THE COMMON COLD. JWatch General
1991: 5-5
[Full Text]
Dhabhar, F. S., Satoskar, A. R., Bluethmann, H., David, J. R., McEwen, B. S.
(2000). Stress-induced enhancement of skin immune function: A role for gamma interferon. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
97: 2846-2851
[Abstract][Full Text]