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Psychological and hormonal stress response patterns during a blood donation
Author(s) -
Hoogerwerf M. D.,
Veldhuizen I. J. T.,
Merz E.M.,
Kort W. L. A. M.,
FringsDresen M. H. W.,
Sluiter J. K.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/vox.12556
Subject(s) - donation , arousal , hormone , blood donor , medicine , psychological stress , psychology , clinical psychology , immunology , social psychology , economics , economic growth
Background and Objectives Donating blood has been associated with increased stress responses, with scarce evidence indicating that levels of psychological and hormonal stress are higher pre‐donation than post‐donation. We investigated whether a blood donation induces psychological and/or hormonal stress during the course of a blood donation, and whether responses differed between men and women, first‐time and experienced donors and donors with high or low non‐acute stress. Materials and Methods In 363 donors, psychological (donation‐stress and arousal) and hormonal (cortisol) stress were measured by questionnaire and salivary sample at seven key moments during a routine donation. Non‐acute stress was assessed by a questionnaire. Repeated measurement analyses were performed, using the last measurement (leaving the donation center) as reference value. Results Levels of donation‐stress, arousal and cortisol were significantly higher during donation than when leaving the donation center. When compared with men, women reported higher levels of donation‐stress and cortisol in the first part of the visit. When compared with first‐time donors, experienced donors reported lower levels of donation‐stress during the first part of the visit, and higher levels of arousal but less reactivity throughout the visit. When compared to donors high on non‐acute stress, donors low on non‐acute stress reported lower levels of donation‐stress during the first part of the visit, and showed less cortisol reactivity throughout the visit. Conclusion Donating blood influences psychological and hormonal stress response patterns. The response patterns differ between women and men, first‐time and experienced donors and between donors high and low on non‐acute stress.