# Stress and Immunosenescence: Protective Effects of Emotion Regulation

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2021 · $248,826

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Identifying factors that influence age-related immune dysfunction (immunosenescence) in older adults is
central to promoting well-being and reducing morbidity – an increasing public health concern given the rapidly
expanding aging population. Evidence from observational and experimental studies suggests that stress is
associated with poorer immune function in older adults. However, less is known about the dynamic
(intraindividual variability) emotional and physiological mechanisms by which stress influences older adults'
immune function. In addition, emotion regulation may be a protective factor that can buffer stress-related
immunosenescence in later life, but there is a dearth of knowledge in this area. This K99/R00 proposal lays the
foundation for an independent research career focused on characterizing adaptive emotional and
immunological mechanisms that contribute to healthy aging during stress. The proposed career development
plan will provide the candidate: (1) expertise in theories and methodologies of aging research, (2) advanced
knowledge in immunosenescence and age-related immune changes, and (3) training in emotion and emotion
regulation processes focused specifically on contexts of aging and stress. The mentored phase capitalizes on
substantial research and professional development resources at the University of Kentucky (UK) and the
expertise of an inter-disciplinary mentoring team (UK: Dr. Segerstrom and Dr. Lutz; UC Berkeley: Dr. Mauss;
Penn State University: Dr. Ram, UCLA: Dr. Effros). These experiences will supplement the candidate's existing
background in stress, emotions, health, and quantitative methods. The present study has three aims to test
different components of a proposed model. Aim 1 (K99): To examine whether emotion regulation moderates
the association between life stressors and immunosenescence. Aim 2 (K99): To explain how daily stressors
are associated with elevated stress biomarkers, through intraindividual variability in negative emotion. Aim 3
(R00): To test the moderated mediation pathways of the entire proposed biopsychosocial model. The research
incorporates a rigorous approach to test the proposed model by examining its interacting components across
different time domains (i.e., life stressors that occur over years and daily hassles that occur on a more micro
level), in various samples (community-dwelling older adults and a large, nationally representative sample), and
across several markers of immunosenescence (lymphocyte senescence, inflammation, a chief proinflammatory
transcription factor, and a latent virus that may drive senescence). Concurrent and prospective lagged
moderation and mediation models using multilevel modeling and regression will be used to test relationships
among stressors, emotional and physiological responses to stress, immunosenescence, and emotion
regulation. Ultimately, this project will increase understanding of the dynamic mechanisms by which stressors
influence i...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10176325
- **Project number:** 5R00AG056635-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca G Reed
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $248,826
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-15 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10176325

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10176325, Stress and Immunosenescence: Protective Effects of Emotion Regulation (5R00AG056635-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10176325. Licensed CC0.

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