In a series of studies, researchers found that interpersonal stressors many are experiencing during quarantine are linked to an increased vulnerability to upper respiratory viruses and perhaps coronavirus.
The findings on psychological factors that predict susceptibility to other respiratory viruses may provide clues to help identify factors that matter for COVID-19.
The research was conducted by a team at Carnegie Mellon University.
Months of self-isolation and social distancing have taken their toll.
In the research, the team examined the impact of different behavioral, social, and psychological factors on the development of upper respiratory illnesses.
They focused on how such factors can affect whether or not healthy adults exposed to respiratory viruses become ill.
Their work has pointed to the importance of social and psychological factors in the development of infection and illness. This work may hold clues to the health implications of the on-going quarantine.
To slow the spread of coronavirus, many communities issued stay-at-home measures, increasing interpersonal stressors, like loneliness, loss of employment and familial conflict.
According to the team, these stressors may be powerful predictors of how a person will respond if exposed to coronavirus.
They found participants experiencing interpersonal stressors had a greater chance of developing an upper respiratory illness when exposed to cold viruses.
The team believes interpersonal stressors might play a similar role in response to the coronavirus causing COVID-19, increasing a person’s vulnerability to infection and illness.
In addition, both social and psychological stressors increased the production of cytokines, molecules that promote inflammation in response to infection.
In turn, this excess of inflammation was linked to an increased risk of becoming ill.
Similarly, research on COVID-19 has shown that producing an excess of pro-inflammatory cytokines are linked to more severe COVID-19 infections suggesting the hypothesis that a stress-triggered excessive cytokine response might similarly contribute to excessive inflammation and symptoms in COVID-19.
While social and psychological stressors increase susceptibility, the team’s work also indicates that social integration and social support offer a protective shield against respiratory infection and illness.
They say if people have a diverse social network (social integration), they tend to take better care of themselves (no smoking, moderate drinking, more sleep, and exercise).
One author of the study is Sheldon Cohen, the Robert E. Doherty Professor of Psychology.
The study is published in Perspectives on Psychological Science.
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