The relationship between thinking patterns and physiological symptoms of stress

In this study the relationship between thinking patterns and physiological symptoms of stress in individuals with an auto-immune syndrome was examined. Using the Stress Processing Report (SPR), 216 females reported symptoms of stress, illness, and significant stressful life events. Scores on four dimensions (self, others, process, and goals) were significantly lower in the individuals with the auto-immune disorder when compared to the control group of 277 females from the general population. The sample group was then divided into high and low stress groups by the number of subjective symptoms of stress reported. Scores were found to be significantly lower in the high stress group when compared to the low stress group. Results indicate that individuals with the auto-immune disorder have more dysfunctional thinking patterns than the general population, and that these patterns correlate with the severity of their subjective complaints.