Estimation of antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccinations: Preliminary evidence for immune interoception

Stephanie J. Dimitroff; Lisa Würfel; Maria Meier; Kelly E. Faig; Annika B.E. Benz; Bernadette Denk; Ulrike U. Bentele; Eva Unternaehrer; Jens C. Pruessner

doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108636

Estimation of antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccinations: Preliminary evidence for immune interoception

Stephanie J. Dimitroff
, Lisa Würfel
, Maria Meier
, Kelly E. Faig
, Annika B.E. Benz
, Bernadette Denk
, Ulrike U. Bentele
, Eva Unternaehrer
, Jens C. Pruessner

Psychology

University of Konstanz
University of Basel
Hamilton College

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

To date, 72 % of the world's population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. The number of antibodies produced by some individuals is exponentially higher than in others, for various mostly unknown reasons. This variation causes great diversity in the future susceptibility to infection by the original or variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The following study investigated whether individuals were able to estimate the strength of their antibody response after their COVID-19 vaccinations. 166 recently vaccinated participants provided a blood sample for determination of antibody titers. Participants were asked to estimate how many antibodies they thought they had produced, and were further asked how protected they felt from COVID-19 due to vaccination. Both self-rated antibody levels, and feelings of protection against COVID-19 were significantly related to their actual IgG spike antibody titers, after controlling for age, days since vaccination, BMI and cross vaccination. These results suggest that individuals may have a form of “immune interoception” which relates to their response to their COVID-19 vaccination.

Original language	English
Article number	108636
Journal	Biological Psychology
Volume	182
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108636
State	Published - Sep 2023

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Antibodies
COVID-19
Immune system
Interoception
Self-rated health

Access to Document

10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108636

Cite this

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title = "Estimation of antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccinations: Preliminary evidence for immune interoception",

abstract = "To date, 72 \% of the world's population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. The number of antibodies produced by some individuals is exponentially higher than in others, for various mostly unknown reasons. This variation causes great diversity in the future susceptibility to infection by the original or variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The following study investigated whether individuals were able to estimate the strength of their antibody response after their COVID-19 vaccinations. 166 recently vaccinated participants provided a blood sample for determination of antibody titers. Participants were asked to estimate how many antibodies they thought they had produced, and were further asked how protected they felt from COVID-19 due to vaccination. Both self-rated antibody levels, and feelings of protection against COVID-19 were significantly related to their actual IgG spike antibody titers, after controlling for age, days since vaccination, BMI and cross vaccination. These results suggest that individuals may have a form of “immune interoception” which relates to their response to their COVID-19 vaccination.",

keywords = "Antibodies, COVID-19, Immune system, Interoception, Self-rated health",

author = "Dimitroff, \{Stephanie J.\} and Lisa W{\"u}rfel and Maria Meier and Faig, \{Kelly E.\} and Benz, \{Annika B.E.\} and Bernadette Denk and Bentele, \{Ulrike U.\} and Eva Unternaehrer and Pruessner, \{Jens C.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2023",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108636",

language = "English",

volume = "182",

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T2 - Preliminary evidence for immune interoception

AU - Dimitroff, Stephanie J.

AU - Würfel, Lisa

AU - Meier, Maria

AU - Faig, Kelly E.

AU - Benz, Annika B.E.

AU - Denk, Bernadette

AU - Bentele, Ulrike U.

AU - Unternaehrer, Eva

AU - Pruessner, Jens C.

PY - 2023/9

Y1 - 2023/9

N2 - To date, 72 % of the world's population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. The number of antibodies produced by some individuals is exponentially higher than in others, for various mostly unknown reasons. This variation causes great diversity in the future susceptibility to infection by the original or variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The following study investigated whether individuals were able to estimate the strength of their antibody response after their COVID-19 vaccinations. 166 recently vaccinated participants provided a blood sample for determination of antibody titers. Participants were asked to estimate how many antibodies they thought they had produced, and were further asked how protected they felt from COVID-19 due to vaccination. Both self-rated antibody levels, and feelings of protection against COVID-19 were significantly related to their actual IgG spike antibody titers, after controlling for age, days since vaccination, BMI and cross vaccination. These results suggest that individuals may have a form of “immune interoception” which relates to their response to their COVID-19 vaccination.

AB - To date, 72 % of the world's population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccination. The number of antibodies produced by some individuals is exponentially higher than in others, for various mostly unknown reasons. This variation causes great diversity in the future susceptibility to infection by the original or variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The following study investigated whether individuals were able to estimate the strength of their antibody response after their COVID-19 vaccinations. 166 recently vaccinated participants provided a blood sample for determination of antibody titers. Participants were asked to estimate how many antibodies they thought they had produced, and were further asked how protected they felt from COVID-19 due to vaccination. Both self-rated antibody levels, and feelings of protection against COVID-19 were significantly related to their actual IgG spike antibody titers, after controlling for age, days since vaccination, BMI and cross vaccination. These results suggest that individuals may have a form of “immune interoception” which relates to their response to their COVID-19 vaccination.

KW - Antibodies

KW - COVID-19

KW - Immune system

KW - Interoception

KW - Self-rated health

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DO - 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108636

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SN - 0301-0511

VL - 182

JO - Biological Psychology

JF - Biological Psychology

M1 - 108636

ER -

Estimation of antibody levels after COVID-19 vaccinations: Preliminary evidence for immune interoception

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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