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Psychosomatic Medicine 32:233-242 (1970)
© 1970 American Psychosomatic Society

Life Stress and Respiratory Illness

MARTIN A. JACOBS PhD1, ARON Z. SPILKEN MA1, MARTIN M. NORMAN MA1, and LULEEN S. ANDERSON PhD1

1 Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.

Address for reprint requests: Dr. M. Jacobs, Division of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 East Concord St, Boston, Mass 02118

Life situations characterized by failure, unresolved role crisis, and social isolation were hypothesized to be associated with the presence of respiratory illness. A study was made of 106 male college students who sought medical care for respiratory difficulties. In order of severity of dysfunctioning, 16 were found to have neurotic disorders; 14, asthma; serious upper-respiratory infection manifested by symptoms of sore throat, 50; and 26, seasonal rhinitis. As a comparison, 73 students who had not sought medical attention and were free of serious illness were also studied. Measures of life change and manifest affects were administered in a standard sequence to all 179 students. It was anticipated that the more incapacitating the disorder, the more likely situations of life stress would be reported as having occurred during the year preceding the seeking of treatment. The results supported this hypothesis.

Submitted on May 16, 1969
Revised on November 21, 1969






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Copyright © 1970 by the American Psychosomatic Society