Does the relationship between health and behavior depend on changes in immune functioning?
Athena Institute for Women’s Wellness is pleased to support the research of Robert M. Kaplan, Ph.D. and his landmark study published in Translational Behavioral Medicine, the official publication from the Society of Behavioral Medicine
(2026, Vol. 16, Issue 1, Published 13 April 2026, Oxford Academic, Oxford University Press)
In his position paper for the peer-reviewed journal, Dr. Kaplan of the Clinical Excellence Research Center at Stanford University School of Medicine explains:
For decades, scientists have studied how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—such as stress levels, social relationships, or lifestyle habits—affect physical health… Many studies have looked at how stress or behavioral therapies impact immune markers like inflammation, stress hormones, or immune cell activity.
However, this review shows that changing these immune markers does not necessarily lead to better health outcomes for people.
Dr. Kaplan discusses further how:
- Behavior strongly influences functioning, quality of life, and longevity.
- Health indicators typically offer a snapshot of a person’s current condition, failing to account for the fact that health changes over time.
- Behavioral health research should prioritize what matters most to patients—such as feeling better, being more active, and living longer—rather than focusing on lab-based immune markers.
Finally, Dr. Kaplan concludes:
“Over the past 40 years, behavior has moved from the margins to the mainstream of health science. Breathing exercises, aerobic and resistance training, mindfulness meditation, balanced nutrition, restorative sleep, hydration, and spiritual practice all correlate with better outcomes, and the evidence for physical activity is particularly robust.”