Life events, perceived stress and antibody response to influenza vaccination in young, healthy adults.
OBJECTIVE
Chronic stress has been associated with impaired response to influenza vaccination in the elderly. This study investigated whether mild, intermittent stress experienced by young, healthy adults has a similar effect.


METHODS
Antibody and psychological status were determined prevaccination and 5 weeks and 5 months later; a fourfold increase in antibody to at least one viral strain was considered protective.


RESULTS
At 5 months, unprotected participants reported significantly more life events and tended to report more perceived stress than those who were protected.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychological stress is detrimental to long-term maintenance of antibody levels following vaccination in young, healthy adults.
Burns
Victoria E
VE
School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK. V.E.Burns@bham.ac.uk
Carroll
Douglas
D
Drayson
Mark
M
Whitham
Martin
M
Ring
Christopher
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology; D012016:Reference Values; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines