Participants are needed for a study examining the effects of the immune system on social perception in the workplace. People's immune system is activated when they are sick or experiencing a stressor, and recent research suggests that it affects people's social behavior as well. Because people often have to make important decisions about hiring and promotions while they are sick or stressed, it is important to examine how the immune system affects people's thought processes about others. In this study, researchers are seeking participants who will be given the flu vaccine to temporarily activate their immune system.

Participants will attend 2 lab sessions at the UAMS-NorthWest Campus in Fayetteville. Sessions will be 1-1.5 hours long and will take place on two consecutive weekdays at approximately the same time each day. During the first session, half of the participants will get the flu shot and half will get a shot with salt water but no vaccine or medicine (these participants will get the actual flu shot at the end of the second session). Participants will also get their blood drawn, provide a saliva sample, and complete tasks and questionnaires about social perception—the way people view other people. Participants will also be asked to give their impression of different social interactions. At the second session, participants will again get their blood drawn, provide a saliva sample, and complete tasks and questionnaires about social perception.  

Eligibility:  

• Adults ages 18 to 40  
• Have not gotten the flu vaccine since August 2023  
• No history of allergic reactions to vaccines  
• People who have diagnosed illnesses that suppress their immune system should not participate in the study 
• All potential participants will go through a phone screening to check eligibility.

If you are interested and would like more information, please fill out an interest form.

Email IDMstudy@uark.edu if you have questions.