Relationships among anger, perceived stress, religiousness, and symptoms of infection in well elderly

The interrelationships among anger, stress, spirituality and infectious illness have seldom been examined in the community dwelling elderly. A sample of 82 well elderly completed 4 assessments: (1) Carr Infection Symptom Checklist (SCL); (2) Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS); (3) Deffenbacher's Anger scale; and (4) Fetzer Multidimensional Measurement of Religiosity/Spirituality (MMRS). Mean age: 74 (range 65 - 91) and (67%): female. Half (51%) were married and more than half had an annual income of $30,000 or more. Stress scores ranged from 15 - 45 (mean = 29.6). Mean SCL score was 5.0 (range 0 – 29). Unhealthy ways of managing anger have been linked to diverse morbidity in younger samples (from colds to elevated BP and cardiac disease). However, this is one of the first studies to demonstrate a relationship between anger management and infection in the elderly (i.e., significant inverse correlations between infection and the use of anger control, thinking before responding, reciprocal communication, and timeout). Those who were unable to forgive themselves, others or feel forgiven by God were more likely to have an infection in the previous month. Increased infections also occurred when older adults did not feel they had religious support from their congregations. There was a significant correlation between stress and SCL scores (r=.25, p=.03). As age increased, these elders meditated, read the Bible, attended and participated in church activities more than younger participants. Age was negatively correlated with two subscales for anger (the dirty looks subscale and body language subscale). Findings indicate that even relatively well elders need assistance with healthy management of anger and stress. As in younger samples, there is an increased risk for infection with higher stress and/or failure to control anger effectively. This study also suggests that the spiritual dimensions of forgiveness and perceived level of congregational support may be influential in decreasing the risk of infection in well elders.