Relationships between stress, psychological factors, health, and immune levels among military aviators

Abstract The present study investigated the relationship between immunoglobulin levels and work stress and personality factors in a population of healthy air force aviators, and also if such factors were related to health complaints. Sixty-four aviators participated, 31 fighter pilots and 33 from a Hercules C130 squadron. Significant correlations were found between environmental stress factors, perceived health complaints and levels of immunoglobulin and complement components. ‘Psychological defence’ correlated with immunoglobulin levels. In a multiple regression analysis, 31% (p<0.05) of the variance for C3 could be explained by perceived work stress and 15% (p<0.05) of the IgA variance by ‘psychological defence’ and ‘complaints related to immune status'. The results confirm that immunological parameters may be used as psychological stress indicators, but the relationships are complex and can be best understood if individual coping and defence strategies are considered.

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