In a new study, researchers found that stress, loneliness and lack of sleep are all factors that can weaken the immune system and make people more susceptible to COVID-19.
The research was conducted by a team at Rice University.
The team has found that stress, loneliness and lack of sleep are three factors that can seriously compromise aspects of the immune system that make people more susceptible to viruses if exposed.
Also, stress, loneliness, and disrupted sleep promote other aspects of the immune system responsible for the production of proinflammatory cytokines to over-respond.
Elevated proinflammatory cytokine production can generate sustained upper respiratory infection symptoms.
And while this previous research has centered on different cold and upper respiratory viruses, the team says there is no doubt that these effects would be the same for COVID-19.
Previous studies have shown that healthy people who spend less time around others and are exposed to the cold virus are much more likely to get sick and experience worse symptoms than those people who get out and socialize.
The team says this can be explained by the way positive emotions buffer against stressors and evoke a favorable immune response, even while extroverted individuals are more likely to be around more people, possibly those who are carrying germs that could make them sick.
It’s an interesting paradox during the global COVID-19 pandemic, when people are strongly encouraged and in some places required to stay at home to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Another major factor that impacts immune health is sleep deprivation, which he noted has been demonstrated over and over in the previous study of the topic.
The researchers say that although alcohol use, certain jobs and other factors make some people more likely to have poor sleep, psychological stress has a tremendous impact on a person’s quality of sleep.
However, even absent of poor sleep, chronic stress alone is disruptive enough to the immune system to make people more likely to get sick.
The best ways to mitigate the harmful health effects of loneliness and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic are to stay connected with others through communication, particularly video calls.
The team also noted that it is important to keep a routine during stressful times.
It is also sometimes helpful for people to identify inaccurate thoughts that reinforce negative thinking and emotions.
The lead author of the research is Rice University’s Christopher Fagundes, an associate professor in the department of psychological sciences.
The findings are published in JAMA Internal Medicine, JAMA, and Annual Review of Psychology.
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