The type A behavior pattern and immune reactivity to brief stress: Change of volume of secretory immunoglobulin A in saliva

This article presents findings of a laboratory experiment on the associatio n of the Type A behavior pattern with reactivity of secretory immune functi oning to brief stress. 38 female undergraduate students classified as Type A (n=19) or as Type B (n=19) on the basis of their scores on the Kwansei Ga kuin Type ii scale performed a continuous arithmetic task in a situation in which they were exposed to aversive loud noise. Secretory immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) in saliva and autonomic measures (heart rate and frequency of eyeb link) were evaluated before and after the manipulation of stress. The volum e of s-IgA at baseline was significantly higher for the Type A group than f or the Type B group, suggesting that the former relative to the latter migh t be chronically higher in mucosal immune functioning. Also, the volume of s-IgA significantly increased after exposure to a brief stress for the Type B group bur did not change for the Type A group, a finding which might ind icate that the Type A group may have less immune reactivity to a brief stre ss.