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Does suggestibility modify acute reactions to passive cigarette smoke exposure?
R B Urch1, F Silverman, P Corey
1Gage Research Institute, Department of Medicine, School of Physical and Health Education, University of Toronto.
Environmental Research
|October 1, 1988
Summary
Suggestibility may slightly increase physiological responses to passive smoking in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic individuals. However, the overall effect of psychological factors on secondhand smoke exposure appears minimal.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Psychology
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Passive cigarette smoke exposure is a significant environmental health concern.
- Understanding psychological influences on physiological responses to pollutants is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of suggestibility on physiological and symptomatic responses to passive smoking.
- To compare these effects in healthy nonasthmatic and asthmatic nonsmokers.
Main Methods:
- Subjects were exposed to filtered air, moderate, and heavy concentrations of cigarette smoke.
- Pulmonary function, nasal resistance, and carboxyhemoglobin levels were measured.
- Suggestibility was assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the James locus of control test.
Main Results:
- Significant dose-response relationships were observed for symptoms, pulmonary function, nasal resistance, and carboxyhemoglobin.
- Asthmatics showed some correlations between pulmonary function and suggestibility measures (MMPI).
- Nonaasthmatics showed weaker correlations with suggestibility measures (MMPI, James test).
Conclusions:
- Suggestibility may weakly augment physiological responses to passive smoking.
- Psychological factors appear to have a limited impact on secondhand smoke exposure effects.