Temporal relationship between life events and two illness measures: a cross-lagged panel analysis.
Stressful life events were correlated with two separate illness measures among naval submarine school students. The two illness measures were self-reported health symptoms, and illnesses recorded in the subjects' medical files. Life events, self-reported symptoms, and medical record illnesses were separated into two time blocks and subjected to a cross-lagged panel analysis in order to assess the temporal relationships among them. A significant positive relationship was shown between negative life events experienced 7-12 months prior to testing and medical record illnesses experienced 0-6 months prior to testing. A comparable relationship was not found for negative events and self-reported symptoms. The results support the view that negative life events increase susceptibility to actual illness onset. They also question the accuracy of self-report measures of illness.
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D012306:Risk; D012803:Sick Role