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Physiological stress responses in defensive individuals: Age and sex matter
Author(s) -
Lévesque Karine,
Moskowitz D. S.,
Tardif JeanClaude,
Dupuis Gilles,
D'antono Bianca
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00943.x
Subject(s) - psychology , heart rate , reactivity (psychology) , stressor , heart rate variability , endocrine system , blood pressure , medicine , social stress , stress measures , endocrinology , physiology , stress (linguistics) , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , hormone , philosophy , pathology , linguistics , alternative medicine
The association between defensiveness and physiological responses to stress were evaluated in 81 healthy working men and 118 women, aged 20 to 64 years ( M =41; SD =11.45). Participants underwent laboratory testing during which they were exposed to interpersonal stressors. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and salivary cortisol were measured. Defensiveness was evaluated using the Marlowe‐Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In women, higher defensiveness was associated with greater BP and HR reactivity to stress ( p <.05). In older men, lower defensiveness was associated with increased systolic BP reactivity to stress ( p <.02), delayed HRV recovery ( p <.02), and greater salivary cortisol levels ( p <.02). In conclusion, greater defensiveness was associated with increased reactivity to stress in women whereas in older men, lower defensiveness was associated with elevated cardiovascular, autonomic, and endocrine responses to stress.