Psychosocial factors and the response to influenza vaccination in older adults.
OBJECTIVE
We examined the influence of psychological state (depression, negative affect, perceived stress) and social support on pre- and post-vaccination response to influenza vaccine.


METHODS
Venous blood was drawn from 37 nursing home residents before and following injection of the trivalent influenza vaccine (comprised of the New Caledonia (NC), Hong Kong (HK), and Panama (Pan) strains of flu). The Geriatric Depression Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were completed following the initial blood draw.


RESULTS
Social support and perceived stress were correlated with pre-vaccine antibody responses to two of the three vaccine components (HK and NC). Social support was negatively correlated with both pre- and post-vaccine titers to Pan. Depression, positive affect, and negative affect were not related to vaccine response.


CONCLUSIONS
Perceived stress and social support influence the rate of decline of antibody titers to previous exposures to some strains of influenza occurring either naturally or via deliberate vaccination.
Moynihan
Jan A
JA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Box PSYCH, 300 Crittenden Blvd., Rochester, NY 14642, USA. jan_moynihan@urmc.rochester.edu
Larson
Mark R
MR
Treanor
John
J
Duberstein
Paul R
PR
Power
Alan
A
Shore
Bernard
B
Ader
Robert
R
D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000276:immunology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000379:methods
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007252:Influenza Vaccines