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| Question | Answer |
| 1 | During the chronic stress response a hormone called cortisol is released which prevents the growth of natural killer cells; an antibody which helps to fight off infection. |
| 2 | This suggests that people suffering with stress are more likely to become poorly. |
| 3 | Research which supports this assumption was conducted by Kiecolt-Glaser. This was a natural experiment where blood samples were taken from 75 medical students 1 month before exams and during exams. |
| 4 | Immune function was assessed by measuring Natural killer cell activity. She then correlated the results of these two sets of data. |
| 5 | NK levels were significantly reduced in the blood sample taken during exams. This suggests that stress does weaken the immune system leaving people vulnerable to illness. |
| 6 | One limitation of this research is that it only shows a correlation between stress and the level of natural killer cells, not cause and effect. |
| 7 | This means that other factors, such as the lifestyle of students may have been a contributing factor towards have a weaker immune system. |
| 8 | This research therefore only provides limited support for the relationship between the immune system and stress related illness. |
| 9 | Another limitation is that a bias sample was used; the participants were all medical students |
| 10 | People training to be doctors are unique in the sense that they will be in close proximity to ill people and possible as a result more prone to catching infections |
| 11 | For this reason the results cannot be generalised to the rest of the population. |
| 12 | In contrast another study found that stress actually enhances the immune system. However, these studies may not be comparable because they measured stress differently |
| 13 | The Yerkes Dodson curve could be offered as an alternative explanation; |
| 14 | this curve would suggest that there is an optimal level of stress, and if you have too much or too little stress your immune system will be weakened. |
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