Two studies are presented, both of which aimed to establish the effect
s of psychosocial load and symptoms on the following enumerative immun
ologic parameters: leucocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes, l
ymphocyte subsets, and plasma levels of IgG, IgA, and IgM. In study I,
83 and in study II, 95 subjects participated, who were selected based
on their scores on questionnaires measuring daily hassles, and psycho
neurotic symptoms. The following four groups were composed: (1) low lo
ad, few symptoms; (2) high load, few symptoms; (3) low load, many symp
toms; (4) high load, many symptoms. The influences of the psychologica
l variables were assessed using regression analyses, while controlling
for age (study I), gender (study 2), smoking cigarettes, alcohol cons
umption, and plasma levels of adrenaline and cortisol. The psychologic
al factors did not explain any of the variance in the dependent variab
les in either study. It is concluded that there is no relationship bet
ween the immunologic parameters under investigation and serf-reports o
f daily hassles and symptoms.