Immunosuppression Flashcards
Who research immunosuppression?
Kiecolt-Glaser
What was study one on?
Exam stress
What were the methods and findings of study one?
75 medial students gave blood samples, one month before exams and on the day of the first exam. They also completed questionnaires measuring sources of stress. They found that activity of white blood cells between the first and second blood samples reduced and this decline was more apparent in those experiencing other sources of stress and feeling lonely
What does study one show?
The immune system is potentially affected by stress
What was study two on?
Looking after relatives who are ill
What was the method and findings of study two?
13 women who cared for relatives with Alzheimer’s were matched with 13 control women on age and income. All were given a 3.5mm punch biopsy and healing was assessed with photography and the response with hydrogen peroxide. Found that women who cared took significantly longer by 9 days for healing
What does study two show?
Naturalistic stressors reduce the effectiveness of the immune system and can therefore make people more vulnerable to illness and infections
What are three strengths of immunosuppression?
- both studies have a high ecological validity so they can be generalised to real world stressors
- multiple studies have had consistent results so findings are reliable
- findings have been used by health practitioners to develop appropriate therapies so has practical applications
What are two limitations of immunosuppression?
- there are extraneous variables as immune system may be affected by other factors e.g alcohol and diet so an issue with cause and effect
- volunteer medical students is not representative so findings can’t be generalised
What is a strength/limitation of immunosuppression?
Longitudinal studies are required which is good as participants are compared to themselves so controls for individual differences but participants may drop out with can make the same more unrepresentative
