Effect of verbal self-disclosure on natural killer cell activity: moderating influence of cynical hostility.
One objective of the present research was to examine the immunological effects of self-disclosing personal information regarding a traumatic or stressful experience. A second objective was to examine the hypothesis that the effect of self-disclosure on immune function is moderated by individual differences in cynical hostility. Forty-three male college undergraduates, classified as high or low on the Cook-Medley Hostility scale were randomly assigned to either a verbal self-disclosure or a nondisclosure discussion condition. Task-induced change in natural killer (NK) cell activity (i.e., cytotoxicity) served as the dependent variable. As predicted, a significant interaction between discussion condition and hostility was obtained. Among subjects in the self-disclosure condition, high hostility subjects exhibited a significantly greater increase in NK cell cytotoxicity than low hostility subjects. The effect of self-disclosure on NK cell activity is moderated by an individual's level of cynical hostility. The greater short term enhancement in NK cell activity observed for hostile persons is a likely correlate of a more pronounced acute arousal response elicited by the self-disclosure task.
Christensen
A J
AJ
Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Edwards
D L
DL
Wiebe
J S
JS
Benotsch
E G
EG
McKelvey
L
L
Andrews
M
M
Lubaroff
D M
DM
D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000276:immunology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012650:Self Disclosure