Optimism, Goal Conflict, and Stressor-Related Immune Change

Segerstrom, Suzanne C.

doi:10.1023/a:1012271410485

Cited by 100Optimism, Hope, and Well-beingStress Responses and CortisolStudent Stress and Coping

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Optimism, Goal Conflict, and Stressor-Related Immune Change

Segerstrom, Suzanne C.·2001·Journal of Behavioral Medicine

DOI 10.1023/a:1012271410485

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Abstract

Although optimism is usually conceptualized as a buffer against stressor-related changes in the immune system, some contradictory findings have emerged. The present research proposed that when facing conflicting goals, optimists are more likely to remain engaged with both goals and to experience higher short-term stress as a consequence. Optimists were therefore predicted to fare worse than pessimists immunologically when facing academic-social goal conflict but to fare better when not facing goal conflict. In the Study 1 sample (n = 48), optimism was associated with higher numbers of CD4+ cells among first-year law students who were less likely to have academic-social conflict and with lower numbers of CD4+ cells at midsemester among students who were more likely to have conflict. The results replicated in the Study 2 sample of law students (n = 22) using delayed-type hypersensitivity testing. Optimists may be subject to short-term physiological costs in their persistence to gain long-term rewards.

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Authors: Segerstrom, S. C.
Affiliations: University of Kentucky (US)
Corresponding author: Segerstrom, Suzanne C.
ORCID: Segerstrom, Suzanne C.
Venue: Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2001-10
Volume: 24
Issue: 5
Pages: 441-467
ISSN: 0160-7715 (ISSN-L)
1573-3521
DOI: 10.1023/a:1012271410485
OpenAlex: W99725191
Cited by: 100
References: 62
Citations by year: 2025: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 9
FWCI: 7.22
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/text-and-data-mining (tdm)
www.springernature.com/gp/researchers/text-and-data-mining (vor)
Locations: Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: National Institute of Mental Health (F31MH010841, MH10841)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
Keywords: optimism, pessimism, goal conflict, CD4+ T cells, delayed-type hypersensitivity, law students, short-term stress, persistence
MeSH terms: Adult, Affect, Conflict, Psychological, Female, Goals, Humans, Hypersensitivity, Delayed, Male, Personality, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sampling Studies, Stress, Psychological, Students, CD4 Lymphocyte Count

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Optimism, Goal Conflict, and Stressor-Related Immune Change

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