biostudies-literatureUnknown25(10)Harrison SEWe prospectively examined whether psychological factors influence (a) respiratory tract infection (RTI) risk and (b) the mucosal immune response to exercise. In Study 1, n = 406 adults (67% male) recorded RTI symptoms for two weeks before and after a marathon. In Study 2, under controlled laboratory conditions, n = 45 adults (51% male) completed 60 min of running at 65% V̇O_2peak (EX) and seated rest (CON) in randomised order. Anxiety, total mood disturbance (TMD) and perceived psychological stress were measured before exercise. Saliva collected pre- and post-exercise was analysed for secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). Fifty runners suffered an RTI post-marathon. Runners prospectively reporting high trait anxiety or TMD were more likely to suffer an RTI post-marathon (OR [95% CI]European journal of sport sciencee70058https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12480926biostudies-literatureAnxiety and Mood Disturbance Are Prospectively Associated With Respiratory Infection Risk and the Mucosal Immune Response to Exercise.PMC12480926Edwards JPRoberts RWalsh NPHarrison SEfalseAnxiety and Mood Disturbance Are Prospectively Associated With Respiratory Infection Risk and the Mucosal Immune Response to Exercise.We prospectively examined whether psychological factors influence (a) respiratory tract infection (RTI) risk and (b) the mucosal immune response to exercise. In Study 1, n = 406 adults (67% male) recorded RTI symptoms for two weeks before and after a marathon. In Study 2, under controlled laboratory conditions, n = 45 adults (51% male) completed 60 min of running at 65% V̇O_2peak (EX) and seated rest (CON) in randomised order. Anxiety, total mood disturbance (TMD) and perceived psychological stress were measured before exercise. Saliva collected pre- and post-exercise was analysed for secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). Fifty runners suffered an RTI post-marathon. Runners prospectively reporting high trait anxiety or TMD were more likely to suffer an RTI post-marathon (OR [95% CI]2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Oct2026-06-04T00:02:23.895Z2026-05-03T03:12:30.579ZS-EPMC124809264102470210.1002/ejsc.70058