Relationship of Life Change, Maladaptive Aggression, and Upper Respiratory Infection in Male College Students

It was hypothesized that the development of a serious upper respiratory infection (URI) for which treatment is sought is antedated by a maladaptive reaction to distressing life conflicts. Twenty-nine male college students who sought relief from sore throats at a college health service were compared with 29 symptom-free students randomly selected from the college directory. The subjects were given a series of questionnaires and a projective test to measure the incidence of distressing life changes, patterns of maladaptive coping, and unpleasant affect. The results indicated that significantly more disappointment, failure, and role crisis appeared in the lives of individuals who became ill and sought help than in “normals.” Defiant coping patterns and heightened unpleasant affect also distinctly characterized the URI group.