Abstract:
The present study examined the association between psychological stress, social
support and antibody response to both thymus-dependent and thymus-independent
vaccinations. Stressful life events in the previous year and customary social support were
measured by standard questionnaires at baseline in 75 (41 females) healthy students.
Antibody status was assessed at baseline, 4 and 18 weeks following vaccination with
formaldehyde inactivated hepatitis A virus and pneumococcal polysaccharides, which
induce thymus-dependent and -independent antibody responses respectively. Controlling
for baseline antibody status, life event stress was negatively associated with antibody
response to the hepatitis A vaccine at the 18-week follow-up; participants reporting a
greater number of stressful life events had a poorer antibody response. There was no
relationship between psychological stress and antibody response to pneumococcal
vaccination. Social support was not associated with the antibody response to hepatitis A
vaccination. However, there was a significant association between support and the
antibody response to the thymus-independent pneumococcal vaccine at 4-week followup;
participants with larger social networks mounted a better response. These
relationships could not be accounted for by age and sex, or by variations in health
behaviours. Psychosocial factors would appear to influence the response to both thymusdependent
and thymus-independent vaccines, but not in the same manner.