Left to right: Crista Crittenden & pet rat, Ader; Sheldon Cohen; Rodlescia Sneed; Denise Deverts; Ellen Conser
In our laboratory we study the role of psychological and social factors in health. Much of our work focuses on the possibility that our psychological states and traits may influence our immune systems in a manner that might alter out bodies' abilities to fight off infectious disease. The core of this work is the identification of the behavior and biological pathways that can account for relations between psychosocial factors and susceptibility to infectious illness. However, a number of our projects focus more generally on the roles of stress, social support, social status, and personality in behavioral, immune and endocrine response. We feel that each of these approaches contributes to our understanding of how our psychosocial environments get inside our bodies.
In one phase of our work, we established that acute laboratory stress alters immune function and demonstrated that these effects are mediated by sympathetic nervous system activation. In a second phase, using human volunteers, we showed that psychological stress and social network ties are associated with our ability to resist common colds. Finally, using nonhuman primates, we found associations between chronically stressful situations, social affiliation, and immune function, as well as the importance of social status for resistance of infection. We continue to combine laboratory and field studies in an attempt to provide convincing behavioral and biological explanations for the relations between psychosocial factors and illness susceptibility.
This is a psychological laboratory and we have a particular
interest in understanding the exact nature of psychological and
social characteristics that have implications for disease. Hence
members of the laboratory are involved in studies focusing on
the number and quality of our daily interactions as predictors
of psychological, endocrine, and immune response. Others are working
on understanding the psychological bases for biases in reporting
symptoms, defining oneself as ill, and seeking health care. Still
others are studying the importance of emotional responses in the
relation between psychosocial factors and health outcomes. Ongoing
studies focus on the effects of interpersonal relationships and
positive and negative affective styles.
To view full-text (pdf or html) versions of many articles and
book chapters generated by Dr. Cohen and the Laboratory, please
click on "Vita" (at left). Carnegie
Mellon University's Research Showcase also offers some of
Dr. Cohen's publications, at no charge.
Links to some other websites addressing our work.