Anger suppression mediates the relationship between optimism and natural killer cell cytotoxicity in men treated for localized prostate cancer

J Psychosom Res. 2006 Apr;60(4):423-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.08.001.

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated relations among optimism, depression, anger suppression and natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) in 61 men treated for localized prostate cancer (PC).

Method: All participants were assessed at a single time point where demographics, optimism, depression and anger suppression were measured. We also collected peripheral venous blood to assess NKCC.

Results: Results showed that greater optimism was associated with greater NKCC (beta=.27, P<.05), less depression (beta=-.63, P<.001) and less anger suppression (beta=-.29, P<.05). Furthermore, less anger suppression (beta=-.35, P<.01) was associated with greater NKCC. In a hierarchical regression model controlling for depression and then anger suppression, the relationship between optimism and NKCC became nonsignificant [beta=.18, t(56)=1.51, P=.14], while anger suppression remained significantly correlated with NKCC [beta=-.29, t(56)=-2.40, P<.05].

Conclusions: Results suggest that optimism is associated with NKCC and a greater ability to adaptively express anger. Furthermore, it appears that less anger suppression partially mediates the relationship between optimism and NKCC.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anger*
  • Attitude to Health*
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology*
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / immunology*