title: Life events, perceived stress and antibody response to influenza vaccination in young, healthy adults.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, Birmingham, UK. V.E.Burns@bham.ac.uk
authors.forename: Victoria E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drayson
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whitham
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ring
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines