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 association of the Type A behavior pattern with reactivity of secretory immune functioning 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 Gakuin Type A 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 eyeblink) were evaluated before and after the manipulation of stress. The volume of s-IgA at baseline was significantly higher for the Type A group than for the Type B group, suggesting that the former relative to the latter might 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 but did not change for the Type A group, a finding which might indicate that the Type A group may have less immune reactivity to a brief stress.