Individual differences in self-regulatory failure and menstrual dysfunction predict upper respiratory infection symptoms and antibody response to flu immunization.

Full Abstract

Prior research indicates that cognitive priming manipulations that activate personal goals acutely increase or decrease natural killer cell cytotoxicity depending on whether individuals see themselves as making or failing to make progress toward their goals. Those findings in a laboratory setting revealed a psychobiological pathway whereby experiences of failure can influence health, but did not assess the impact of chronic perceived success/failure in goal pursuit on actual health outcomes. Three new studies investigated whether individual differences in perceived failure to attain personal goals influenced the self-reported symptoms of upper respiratory infections (URIs) as well as antibody response to flu immunization. Based on pilot data in young women, it also was hypothesized that the occurrence of menstrual dysfunction might interact with goal pursuit failure to more specifically predict cold and flu symptoms and optimal responses to vaccination. Perceived failure to attain goals did predict the reporting of URI symptoms as well as antibody levels post-immunization, both alone and in combination with menstrual dysfunction.

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Author information

Author/s: Strauman, Timothy J (TJ); Coe, Christopher L (CL); McCrudden, Megan C (MC); Vieth, Angela Z (AZ); Kwapil, Lori (L);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Box 90086, 9 Flowers Drive, Durham, NC 27708, USA. tjstraum(-atsign-)duke.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial

Journal: Brain, behavior, and immunity (Brain Behav Immun), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 22 (issue 5) : pp 769-80

Dates: Created 2008/06/16; Completed 2008/08/19;

PMID: 18294813, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Achievement
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Antibody Formation - immunology; physiology
Cognition - physiology
Emotions - physiology
Female
Goals
Humans

Individuality
Influenza Vaccines - immunology
Influenza, Human - immunology; psychology
Menstruation - immunology; psychology
Menstruation Disturbances - immunology; psychology
Prospective Studies
Questionnaires
Respiratory Tract Infections - immunology; psychology
Self Concept

Associated Chemicals: Influenza Vaccines (0)

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