Impact of perceived self-efficacy in coping with stressors on components of the immune system.
This experiment examined the impact of experimentally varied perceived self-efficacy in exercising control over stressors on components of the immunological system. Immunological changes while coping with phobic stressors were measured within an intrasubject control design that included a baseline phase, an efficacy-acquisition phase, and a maximal-efficacy phase. In each of these phases, perceived coping self-efficacy, level of autonomic and endocrine activation, and several components of the immunological system were measured. Development of strong perceived self-efficacy to control phobic stressors had an immunoenhancing effect. A slow growth of perceived self-efficacy, heart rate acceleration, and cortisol activation attenuated immunological system status during the efficacy-acquisition phase. Rapid growth of perceived self-efficacy also predicted maintenance of immunoenhancement during the maximal perceived self-efficacy phase.
Wiedenfeld
S A
SA
Stanford University, California 94305.
O'Leary
A
A
Bandura
A
A
Brown
S
S
Levine
S
S
Raska
K
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology