Stress and immune system function in a newspaper's newsroom

Data were collected on 10 newswriters in a newspaper's newsroom. These incl uded self-reported stress ratings and saliva samples for secretary immunogl obulin A (IgA) analysis. The stress ratings and saliva samples were taken i nitially and after three 30-min, periods. The first time period was a basel ine measure and involved the workers engaging in their usual tasks. At Time 2 music was presented for 30 min, while workers engaged in their normal ac tivities. At Time 3 workers resumed their normal duties. Findings showed an increase in IRA that was not statistically significant, a reduction in str ess during the music period that was statistically significant, and a stati stically significant negative correlation between stress and IgA.