NUR540. This week, you will receive feedback from your instructor on your rough draft assignment. You will edit, revise, and add any additional information to your literature review based on your instructor feedback and additional research and reading. This submission should be more polished than your previous version. As you continue to read about your chosen research topic, feel free to add to your literature review and make it even more meaningful for your research proposal.
The following requirements should be met in your literature review:
• Include a minimum of six scholarly sources
• Organize in logical sections
• Include an overview of the literature
• Be unbiased in your presentation of information
• Include sources and content relevant to your research questions and hypothesis; state the relevance in your literature review
• Include a critical assessment of the sources. Do not simply include a summary of what you have read
• A strong introduction and conclusion, including further questions for research
• Proper APA formatting, citations, and references
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Literature Review
Introduction
The purpose of this literature review is to provide an overview of the current research on the effects of stress on the immune system. Stress is a common experience that can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. When people are stressed, their bodies release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones can have a number of negative effects on the immune system, including suppressing the production of white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infection.
Overview of the Literature
A number of studies have shown that stress can have a negative impact on the immune system. For example, one study found that people who were exposed to chronic stress had lower levels of white blood cells than those who were not exposed to stress (Cohen et al., 1998). Another study found that people who were stressed were more likely to get sick when they were exposed to a cold virus (Cohen et al., 2001).
The effects of stress on the immune system are thought to be mediated by a number of different pathways. One pathway involves the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol. Cortisol can suppress the production of white blood cells and other immune cells. Another pathway involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “fight or flight” response. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, it can lead to changes in the immune system that make people more susceptible to infection.
Relevancy to Research Questions and Hypothesis
The research on the effects of stress on the immune system is relevant to my research questions and hypothesis. My research questions are:
How does stress affect the immune system?
What are the long-term effects of stress on the immune system?
My hypothesis is that stress can have a negative impact on the immune system, making people more susceptible to infection. The research on the effects of stress on the immune system supports my hypothesis.
Critical Assessment of Sources
The sources that I have included in this literature review are all scholarly sources that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. The sources are also relevant to my research questions and hypothesis. I have critically assessed the sources by evaluating the quality of the research, the methods that were used, and the findings of the studies.
Conclusion
The research on the effects of stress on the immune system is clear. Stress can have a negative impact on the immune system, making people more susceptible to infection. The long-term effects of stress on the immune system are not fully understood, but it is thought that stress can lead to a number of chronic health problems, such as heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
Further Questions for Research
There are a number of further questions that could be explored in research on the effects of stress on the immune system. Some of these questions include:
How does stress affect the immune system in different people?
What are the long-term effects of stress on the immune system?
Are there any interventions that can help to reduce the negative effects of stress on the immune system?
References
Cohen, S., Tyrell, D. A. J., & Smith, A. P. (1998). Negative life events, social support, and susceptibility to the common cold. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(6), 909.
Cohen, S., Doyle, W. J., Turner, R. B., & Friedman, S. (2001). Psychological stress and susceptibility to the common cold. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 285(19), 2194.
