The Association Between Cytomegalovirus Infection and Daily Stress Processes in Early Adulthood

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a common, asymptomatic, latent virus, may contribute to individual differences in daily psychological stress processes and ensuing poor health. Though mechanisms linking CMV to daily stress are poorly understood, CMV has been associated with self-regulatory deficits in older adults that, in turn, may affect daily stress processes. We examined this model in young adults who may still be able to modify CMV-related interference on daily life.

Participants ( N =108, M age =19.8, 83.3% female, 72% White) completed a lab visit and a 14-day daily diary (90.2% response rate; Brief Self-Control Scale, Behavioral Inhibition/Behavioral Activation Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Daily Inventory of Stressful Events, PROMIS Emotional Distress-Depression and Anxiety). CMV IgG was assayed from finger stick dried blood spot samples via ELISA. Gaussian and Poisson multilevel models tested the effects of CMV serostatus and IgG antibodies.

CMV seropositivity associated with lower daily stress exposure at higher levels of BAS-Drive (λ=-0.098, p =.047) and with lower daily stress severity at higher levels of BAS-total and BAS-drive (γ=-0.011, p =.011; γ=-0.018, p =.020). Higher CMV IgG associated with lower daily stress severity at higher levels of BAS-fun seeking and BAS-total (γ=-0.013, p =.043; γ=-0.008, p =.024).

CMV interacted with motivation to affect daily stress processes in young adults. However, CMV may just be epiphenomenal to an untested factor that relates to self-regulation and stress. Findings represent vital work in understanding contributions to healthspan, or years of healthy living, early in life. Future research should continue examining CMV latency effects from younger to older adulthood.