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Negative affect relates to cross-sectional but not longitudinal symptom reporting: data from elderly adults
M A Diefenbach1, E A Leventhal, H Leventhal
1Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey 08903, USA. diefenba@rci.rutgers.edu
Summary
Negative affect correlates with current symptom reports in older adults. However, it does not influence symptom increases following inoculations, suggesting affect impacts perception, not physiological response.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Immunology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Negative affect, encompassing depression and anxiety, is often linked to increased symptom reporting.
- Understanding this relationship is crucial, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between negative affect and symptom perception in elderly individuals.
- To determine if negative affect influences symptom reporting changes after inoculation procedures.
Main Methods:
- Compared symptom reports from 76 elderly participants (mean age 73.5) across four affect groups (high/low depression and anxiety).
- Collected symptom data before and after active (influenza, tetanus toxoid, KLH) and placebo inoculations.
Main Results:
- Cross-sectional analyses confirmed associations between negative affect and higher reports of systemic (flu-like) symptoms.
- Local symptoms (injection site reactions) increased post-active inoculation.
- Systemic symptom reports decreased after both active and placebo inoculations, irrespective of affect levels.
Conclusions:
- Negative affect is associated with current symptom reporting in older adults.
- Negative affect does not predict changes in symptom reporting following an inoculation procedure.
- Findings suggest affect influences symptom perception rather than the physiological response to an intervention.