Differential effects of mild chronic stress on cortisol and SIgA response to an acute stressor

Author(s)

T.D. Viena
Jonathan Banks, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
I.M. Barbu
A.H. Schulman
Jaime Tartar, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Biological Psychology

ISSN

0301-0511

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Abstract

While acute stress is adaptive in the short term, chronic stress may interfere with HPA axis functioning and self-regulation that can, in turn, alter the body's immune response. Several studies suggest that acute and chronic stress consistently increase cortisol levels; however, the same cannot be said about S-IgA levels. We tested the effects of a mild chronic stress (an academic exam period), on cortisol and S-IgA responses to an acute stress. Exposure to an acute stressor significantly increases cortisol levels during periods of no-stress, but not during mild chronic stress, while S-IgA levels consistently increase during both sessions. Furthermore, we find that during the period of chronic mild stress, the perception of stress is related to increased cortisol response to an acute stressor. Combined, these findings shed light on the impact of increased background stress on acute stress responses.

DOI

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2012.08.003

Volume

91

First Page

307

Last Page

311

NSUWorks Citation

Viena, T., Banks, J., Barbu, I., Schulman, A., Tartar, J. (2012). Differential effects of mild chronic stress on cortisol and SIgA response to an acute stressor. Biological Psychology, 91, 307-311.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/1005