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Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 5, No. 4, 431-440 (2000)

Anger Expression and Natural Killer Cell Activity in Family Caregivers Participating in a Physical Activity Trial

Sara Wilcox

University of South Carolina, USA

Abby C. King

Stanford University School of Medicine, USA

Peter P. Vitaliano

University of Washington, USA

Glenn S. Brassington

University of Missouri, Columbia, USA

Associations between psychological functioning and natural killer cell activity (NKA) were examined in 23 older (62.2 ± 7.5 years) family caregivers randomized to a moderate intensity four-month exercise program or to a wait-list control condition. At baseline, although NKA was related to anger-control (r = -.42; trend p< .06) and anger-out (r = .50; p< .03), it was not related to depression, anxiety, perceived stress, or caregiver burden. After controlling for baseline NKA, changes in anger-control explained 14 percent of the variance in NKA four months later. Decreases in anger-control predicted increases in NKA. Group assignment (exercise vs control) was unrelated to changes in NKA over the four-month period; however, the study was not powered to detect this effect. These results are consistent with reported relationships of anger expression with other physiological measures, and extend the importance of anger expression to immune functioning in older family caregivers.

Key Words: aging • anger expression • exercise • family caregiving • immune functioning


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