Anger suppression mediates the relationship between optimism and natural killer cell cytotoxicity in men treated for
Frank J Penedo1, Jason R Dahn, Dave Kinsinger
1Department of Psychology, University of Miami, P.O. Box 248185, Coral Gables, FL 33124-2070, USA. fpenedo@miami.edu
Objective:
This study evaluated relations among optimism, depression, anger suppression and natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) in 61 men treated for localized prostate cancer (PC).
Method:
All participants were assessed at a single time point where demographics, optimism, depression and anger suppression were measured. We also collected peripheral venous blood to assess NKCC.
Results:
Results showed that greater optimism was associated with greater NKCC (beta=.27, P<.05), less depression (beta=-.63, P<.001) and less anger suppression (beta=-.29, P<.05). Furthermore, less anger suppression (beta=-.35, P<.01) was associated with greater NKCC. In a hierarchical regression model controlling for depression and then anger suppression, the relationship between optimism and NKCC became nonsignificant [beta=.18, t(56)=1.51, P=.14], while anger suppression remained significantly correlated with NKCC [beta=-.29, t(56)=-2.40, P<.05].
Conclusions:
Results suggest that optimism is associated with NKCC and a greater ability to adaptively express anger. Furthermore, it appears that less anger suppression partially mediates the relationship between optimism and NKCC.
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