Psychosomatic Medicine Faster Service from Outside North America
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Arnetz, B. B.
Right arrow Articles by et, al.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Arnetz, B. B.
Right arrow Articles by et, al.

Psychosomatic Medicine, Vol 49, Issue 1 3-12, Copyright © 1987 by American Psychosomatic Society

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Immune function in unemployed women

BB Arnetz, J Wasserman, B Petrini, SO Brenner, L Levi, P Eneroth, H Salovaara, R Hjelm, L Salovaara, T Theorell and al. et

Immunologic effects of unemployment were prospectively studied in women over a period of 8 months. Subjects were classified into three groups depending on their employment history, and were studied concomitantly. Group A consisted of unemployed women who were recipients of traditional support from the Swedish welfare state. Group B was composed of unemployed women who were given the opportunity to participate in a psychosocial program, in addition to receiving the traditional unemployment benefits received by group A. Group C, the control, consisted of securely employed women. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) reactivity of lymphocytes decreased significantly in both groups of unemployed women after 9 months of unemployment. The psychosocial program did not counteract this decrease. Reactivity to purified protein derivative (PPD) of tuberculin also decreased significantly in the unemployed subjects. No changes were observed in the securely employed women. There were no significant differences among the groups in T cell subpopulations, B cells, and serum cortisol. The data suggest that some aspects of the immune system may be altered at a specific time period following the loss of work. Further studies are needed to see if this effect is only temporary or more long lasting.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
V. E. Burns, D. Carroll, C. Ring, L. K. Harrison, and M. Drayson
Stress, Coping, and Hepatitis B Antibody Status
Psychosom Med, March 1, 2002; 64(2): 287 - 293.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
J. M. Turner-Cobb, S. E. Sephton, C. Koopman, J. Blake-Mortimer, and D. Spiegel
Social Support and Salivary Cortisol in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Psychosom Med, May 1, 2000; 62(3): 337 - 345.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol Res NursHome page
R. E. Constantino, L. K. Sekula, B. Rabin, and C. Stone
Negative Life Experiences Negative Life Experiences, Depression, and Immune Function in Abused and Nonabused Women
Biol Res Nurs, January 1, 2000; 1(3): 190 - 198.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Health PsycholHome page
J. E. Ferrie
Labour Market Status, Insecurity and Health
J Health Psychol, July 1, 1997; 2(3): 373 - 397.
[Abstract]

Home page
 Journal of Health Politics, Policy and LawHome page
J. P. Leigh and H. M. Waldon
Unemployment and Highway Fatalities
Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, March 1, 1991; 16(1): 135 - 156.
[Abstract] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1987 by the American Psychosomatic Society