title: Trait reflection predicts interleukin-6 response to a social-evaluative stressor.
abstract: Past work has linked negative repetitive thought (worry, rumination) about stressors to sustained stress responses. Less is known about the effects of neutral types of repetitive thought (e.g., reflection) on physiological stress responses. The present study examined whether greater trait reflection was associated with a lower inflammatory response to an acute psychosocial stressor. Thirty-four healthy undergraduate women completed a speech stressor, and plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were assessed before and after the stressor. Higher levels of reflection predicted lower IL-6 responses 1h after the stressor. Stressor appraisal was not a significant mediator. These preliminary findings stand in contrast to existing evidence that other forms of repetitive thought like worry and rumination may exacerbate or prolong the inflammatory stress response and indicate that reflection is a notable factor worth considering when examining the relationship between stress, inflammation, and health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, United States.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woody
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, United States.
authors.forename: Wilson S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, United States.
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benencia
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ohio University, United States. Electronic address: zoccola@ohio.edu.
authors.forename: Peggy M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Zoccola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Acute stress; Cytokines; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Perseverative cognition; Psychological Stress; Reflection; Repetitive thought; Rumination