He looked at the
effects of marital
arguments on the
immune system
and wound
healing
Method
42 couples who had been married for an average of 12 years had small suction devices placed on their arms to
deliberately create eight small blisters. The tops of these were removed and a small bubble placed over the top allowing
fluids to be withdrawn. On their first visit the couples were drawn into a positive discussion about behaviours they’d like
to change. Two months later the couples returned and the procedure repeated. This time however, they were drawn into
a negative discussion about areas of disagreement which often provoked strong feelings
Findings
It was found that on the second visit the blisters took a whole
day longer to heal (60% longer) and that levels of the hormone
interleukin-6 that controls wound healing was much higher.
Women seemed to be particularly prone to the effects.
The
Immune
System
It is the network of cells and chemicals throughout the body
that functions to seek out and destroy invading particles.
White Blood Cells
They are also known as leucocytes
There are two
types of white
blood cells;
2. Lymphocytes
These produce
antibodies which attach
themselves to the
foreign particles,
slowing them down and
making it easier for other
immune cells such as
the phagocytes to
destroy them – system
takes longer to work as
it is a specific chemical
response.
Two types of
Lymphocytes
B
Cells
They produce
antibodies which
are released into
the fluid
surrounding the
body’s cells to
destroy the
invading viruses
and bacteria.
T
Cells
If the invader gets inside
a cell, these cells lock on
to the infected cell,
multiply and destroy it.
1. Phagocytes
These surround and ingest the
invading foreign particles
wherever they encounter them
Keicolt-Glaser
Et Al (1984)
Aim
He investigated whether the stress of short
term stressors had an effect on immune
system functioning in medical students.
Procedure
Blood samples (from medical students) were
taken 1 month before (low stress) and during
the exam period (high stress). Immune
system function were assessed by measuring
NK Cell activity in the blood samples.
Findings
Natural Killer (NK) Cell activity was significantly
reduced in the second blood sample compared to
the sample taken 1 month before.
Conclusion
This suggests that short term, predictable
stressors reduce immune system functioning,
increasing vulnerability to illness
Strengths
“natural environment”
and Ethologically valid
Heightens awareness of risks
of stress, exam pressures
Limitation
Sample is small, medical
students who are young
Other factors
could decrease
NK cells >
lifestyle choice
Where the
blood sample
is taken from
Segerstrom and
Miller (2004)
He carried out a
meta-analysis of
other studies and
concluded pretty
much the same
thing.
Findings
Short term stress
boosts immunity
whereas long term,
chronic stress
suppresses immunity.
The longer the stress
continues the weaker the
immune response becomes
leaving us more and more
prone to infection.