Workplace Stress and its Effect on Your Immune System

According to a recent study in an Italian medical journal, occupational stress and job insecurity have a significantly negative affect on the body's immune system.

The immune system responds to environmental signals. Natural killer cells or NK cells play a major role in the rejection of tumors and cells infected by viruses. High blood NK activity characterizes individuals with a good life style and mental health condition or those exerting physical activity. Mental instability, depression and a poor life style exert opposite effects. A poor work environment with low social support or repetitive and shift work, as well as unemployment, were shown to affect the immune response, inducing autoimmune disorders or reducing NK cell activity. The study looked at anxiety, job strain and insecurity and the NK cell activity of 118 men and 68 women working in a university. A group of older employees with high job strain and anxiety showed lower NK cell activity. Young employees with temporary jobs showed reduced NK cell activity, while workers in training underwent increased job strain, but anxiety, job insecurity and immune response were within a normal range. Analysis of all the data showed that anxiety and job insecurity (more than occupational stress) reduce NK cell activity, thus affecting the workers' health status.

From G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2009 Jul-Sep;31(3):277-80