Cold Symptoms and Emotional Dissatisfaction Among Rural/Urban and Culturally Diverse High School Students

The hypothesis that negative emotional states can lower the immunological system's ability to ward off common colds was tested on a sample of 142 rural and urban students. The number of cold symptoms experienced was compared to scale scores of emotional dissatisfaction, stress, and depression. Emotional dissatisfaction at school and at home was correlated with more cold symptoms, as were stress and depression. Rural students exhibited more colds and emotional dissatisfaction than did urban students. Female students exhibited more emotional dissatisfaction, more stress, and more depression than did male students. Cultural background also proved significant: Europeans and Hispanics reported more cold symptoms than did African Americans and West Indians. West Indians also showed significantly more emotional satisfaction than did those from other cultures.