Psychological and Social Constructs

Numerous psychological and social constructs were assessed across the 5 cold studies via self-administered questionnaire and/or telephone interview before viral-challenge.  These constructs include characteristics of the social environment (e.g. perceived social support, social integration), stress (e.g. perceived stress, stressful life events), state/trait affect, psychological well-being (e.g. self-esteem, purpose in life, life satisfaction) and personality (e.g. extraversion, neuroticism).  

While not all specific constructs were assessed in each study, several variables were measured consistently, such as perceived stress, social integration, and trait affect.  In some cases, similar constructs were measured in more than one study, but the specific instruments used to assess those constructs differed (e.g., Eysenck Personality Inventory vs. Goldberg’s Adjective Scale to measure extraversion).  To facilitate combining the 5 studies, the data set includes standardized versions of differing variables that represent the same construct.

The table below lists the psychological and social constructs that were assessed in the 5 cold studies, and the specific measures used to assess them in each.  More detailed information on how each construct was assessed can be obtained by clicking on the name of the measure.