Religious Participation, Interleukin-6, and Mortality in Older Adults.

This study prospectively examined the relationship between religious attendance, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels, and mortality rates in a community-based sample of 557 older adults. Attending religious services more than once weekly was a significant predictor of lower subsequent 12-year mortality and elevated IL-6 levels (> 3.19 pg/mL), with a mortality ratio of .32 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15,0.72; p     

Cognitive–behavioral stress management decreases dysphoric mood and herpes simplex virus-Type 2 antibody titers in symptomatic HIV-seropositive gay men.

This study tested the effects of a 10-week group cognitive–behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on mood and immunologic parameters in HIV-seropositive gay men whose disease had progressed to a symptomatic stage. Men were randomized to either CBSM or a modified waiting-list control group. The CBSM intervention significantly decreased self-reported dysphoria, anxiety, and total distress. Individuals who practiced relaxation more consistently had significantly greater drops in dysphoria. The intervention also decreased herpes simplex virus-Type 2 (HSV-2) immunoglobulin G antibody titers. The control group showed no significant changes in either mood or antibody titers. Individual difference analyses revealed that decreases in dysphoria significantly predicted lower HSV-2 antibody titers by the end of the 10-week period. Neither group displayed changes in HSV-Type I antibody titers or in CD4+ or CD8+ cell numbers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive–behavioral stress management intervention effects on anxiety, 24-hr urinary norepinephrine output, and T-cytotoxic/suppressor cells over time among symptomatic HIV-infected gay men.

The present study tested the effects of a multimodal cognitive–behavioral stress management (CBSM) intervention on anxious mood, perceived stress, 24-hr urinary catecholamine levels, and changes in T-lymphocyte subpopulations over time in symptomatic HIV+ gay men. Seventy-three men were randomized to either a group-based CBSM intervention (n?=?47) or a wait-list control (WLC) condition (n?=?26). Men assigned to CBSM showed significantly lower posttreatment levels of self-reported anxiety, anger, total mood disturbance, and perceived stress and less norepinephrine (NE) output as compared with men in the WLC group. At the individual level, anxiety decreases paralleled NE reductions. Significantly greater numbers of T-cytotoxic/suppressor (CD3+CD8+) lymphocytes were found 6 to 12 months later in those assigned to CBSM. Moreover, greater decreases in NE output and a greater frequency of relaxation home practice during the 10-week CBSM intervention period predicted higher CD3+CD8+ cell counts at follow-up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sense of coherence moderates the relationship between life stress and natural killer cell activity in healthy older adults.

A sense of coherence (SOC) has been found to be a strong predictor of health outcomes and life satisfaction in older adults. This study investigated mood and immune effects of anticipated voluntary housing relocation in 30 healthy older adults and 28 age-matched controls and examined whether SOC would buffer effects of relocation on natural killer (NK) cell activity. Movers completed assessments and had blood drawn 1 month before relocation to congregate living facilities; controls were assessed concurrently. Compared with the control group, movers showed decreased positive mood and NK activity and elevated thought intrusion. Positive mood mediated the relationship of moving with NK activity, whereas SOC moderated this relationship. Low SOC movers had the poorest NK activity; that of high SOC movers was less compromised. These findings are consistent with possible salutogenic contributions of SOC and positive mood to immune function in older adults facing stressful life transitions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The assessment and validity of stress-related growth in a community-based sample.

In an investigation of the assessment and construct validity of stress-related growth, community-dwelling women (N = 163) wrote essays about the impact of a stressful life event that had occurred in the previous few years and completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI). Independent ratings of growth in the essays were positively correlated with PTGI scores, suggesting that endorsement of growth on questionnaires can be substantiated by personal accounts. There was no relation between reports of growth on the PTGI and socially desirable responding or negative mood. Higher PTGI scores were associated with greater positive mood and greater depth of processing in the essays. These findings support the validity of stress-related growth as a construct and its assessment via questionnaire. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)