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Wang G, Tang J, Yin Z, Yu S, Shi X, Hao X, Zhao Z, Pan Y, Li S. The neurocomputational signature of decision-making for unfair offers in females under acute psychological stress. Neurobiol Stress 2024; 30:100622. [PMID: 38533483 PMCID: PMC10963855 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2024.100622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Stress is a crucial factor affecting social decision-making. However, its impacts on the behavioral and neural processes of females' unfairness decision-making remain unclear. Combining computational modeling and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), this study attempted to illuminate the neurocomputational signature of unfairness decision-making in females. We also considered the effect of trait stress coping styles. Forty-four healthy young females (20.98 ± 2.89 years) were randomly assigned to the stress group (n = 21) and the control group (n = 23). Acute psychosocial stress was induced by the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), and participants then completed the one-shot ultimatum game (UG) as responders. The results showed that acute psychosocial stress reduced the adaptability to fairness and lead to more random decision-making responses. Moreover, in the stress group, a high level of negative coping style predicted more deterministic decision. fNIRS results showed that stress led to an increase of oxy-hemoglobin (HbO) peak in the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), while decreased the activation of left middle temporal gyrus (lMTG) when presented the moderately unfair (MU) offers. This signified more involvement of the mentalization and the inhibition of moral processing. Moreover, individuals with higher negative coping scores showed more deterministic decision behaviors under stress. Taken together, our study emphasizes the role of acute psychosocial stress in affecting females' unfairness decision-making mechanisms in social interactions, and provides evidences for the "tend and befriend" pattern based on a cognitive neuroscience perspec.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangya Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhouqian Yin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyu Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Xindi Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiurong Hao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhudele Zhao
- College of Science, Northeastern University, 02115, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yafeng Pan
- Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Education Technology and Application of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, China
- The State Key Lab of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shijia Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), Institute of Brain and Education Innovation, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, 200062, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Changning Mental Health Center, 200335, Shanghai, China
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Heming M, Angerer P, Apolinário-Hagen J, Liszio S, Nater UM, Skoluda N, Weber J. Hair cortisol concentration and its association with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students in Germany. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 163:106986. [PMID: 38367529 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.106986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Experiencing acute and chronic stress can contribute to adverse health outcomes. Responses to acute stress differ between individuals (i.e., stress reactivity) and the experience of chronic stress has been discussed to be associated with acute stress responses and stress recovery. This study thus aims to investigate whether hair cortisol concentration (HCC), being an indicator for hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity over a prolonged period of time, is associated with acute stress responses and recovery in a sample of medical students. MATERIAL AND METHODS From July 2020 to July 2021, medical students (n = 54) underwent a virtual-reality Trier Social Stress Test in which their blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured, and hair samples were taken to determine HCC. Piecewise linear growth analyses were used to investigate whether HCC (categorized into low, medium and high levels) is associated with acute stress responses and recovery regarding blood pressure and HRV. RESULTS Significant interaction effects in piecewise linear growth analyses showed that participants with higher levels of HCC had lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses compared to participants with medium levels of HCC. No significant interaction effects were observed for HRV responses or for recovery measures. CONCLUSIONS The study suggests that higher levels of HCC are associated with a lower cardiovascular response in terms of blood pressure to an acute stressor in medical students. Therefore, long-term HPA-axis activity may contribute to different magnitudes of acute stress responses in the autonomic nervous system. As the shown lower blood pressure responses to acute stress in individuals with increased long-term HPA-axis activity may represent inadequate stress responses, these should be further studied in order to find out more about their interaction and potential subsequent disease risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Heming
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Peter Angerer
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Jennifer Apolinário-Hagen
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Stefan Liszio
- Center for Virtual and Extended Reality in Medicine, University Hospital Essen, Germany
| | - Urs Markus Nater
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadine Skoluda
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Liebiggasse 5, 1010 Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE) - Processes and Mechanisms underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jeannette Weber
- Institute of Occupational, Social, and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Wordlaw L, Vilme H. Lessons learned: Implementing and adapting a multimedia campaign to promote heart health to college students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2024; 72:493-499. [PMID: 35286248 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2041644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Objective: This one-year pilot study investigated the effectiveness of a multimedia campaign, Heart Healthy U (HHU), to increase awareness about the link between unhealthy behaviors and risk for heart disease among emerging adults on a college campus. This paper describes the implementation of HHU. Participants: The HHU campaign was implemented from the Fall of 2019 through Spring 2020 and during this time there were approximately 15,043 enrolled students at the south eastern U.S. college campus. Methods: The HHU campaign employed print (e.g., banners, posters, and yard signs) and electronic formats (e.g., email, Instagram). We designed the methods across three phases: (1) relationship building and formative research, (2) campaign development, and (3) the Heart Healthy U campaign launch. Results: The HHU encountered challenges when the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 or SARS-co-V2) interrupted campus life, however we relied on the electronic formats to reach students during the state-wide lockdown/quarantine mandates. In addition, there were two changes to the HHU health messages. First, we updated the health messages to illustrate that eating healthy and engaging in physical activity supports immune function. Next, we developed new health messages to address effects of physical isolation and anxiety by promoting psychological well-being during this historic public health crisis. Conclusions: We asked whether a multimedia campaign on a college campus could encourage emerging adults to consume fruits and vegetables and engage in physical activity according to the federally-recommended guidelines. It is essential that interventions intended to reach today's emerging adults be presented in formats that they use (e.g., social media platforms), supported by campus administrators, and endorsed by peer influencers. In conclusion, more intervention studies are needed to counter the unhealthy social norm behaviors common to college campus life that increase heart disease risk, particularly among marginalized populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- LaShawn Wordlaw
- Department of Public Health Education, North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Helene Vilme
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Singer J, Cummings C, Coccaro EF. Parental separation and death during childhood as predictors of adult psychopathology: An examination of racial differences. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA : THEORY, RESEARCH, PRACTICE AND POLICY 2024; 16:184-192. [PMID: 35737525 PMCID: PMC10262299 DOI: 10.1037/tra0001291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Parental separation and parental death during childhood are common but understudied forms of adverse childhood events (ACEs), thus little is known about the impact on psychological functioning in adulthood. We examined whether parental death and parental separation during childhood was associated with risk of diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or personality disorders during adulthood. Second, we compared parental separation and parental death and psychopathology across African Americans (N = 499) and Whites (N = 782). METHOD The sample consists of 1,211 participants (n = 669 females). Diagnostic interviews were administered by master's or doctorate-level degree holders in Clinical Psychology or Social Work. There was good to excellent interrater reliabilities (mean kappa of .84 ± .05; range: .79-.93) spanning anxiety, mood, anxiety, trauma, and personality disorders. RESULTS White participants reporting parental separation during childhood were more likely to report depressive disorders (OR = 2.151, p < .001), PTSD (OR = 2.218, p < .01) and personality disorders (OR = 1.764, p < .001) during adulthood. African American endorsement of parental separation during childhood did not predict depressive disorders (OR = 1.21, p = .357), anxiety disorders (OR = 1.107, p = .659), PTSD (OR = 1.351, p = .425) or personality disorders (OR = 1.432, p = .098) during adulthood. Overall, participants who reported parental death did not have significantly higher rates of depressive disorders (OR = 1.100, p = .668), anxiety disorders (OR = 1.357, p = .207), PTSD (OR = 1.351, p = .425), and personality disorders (OR = 1.432, p = .098). CONCLUSIONS Parental separation was a significant risk factor for adult psychopathology, but only for White participants. Parental death was not a risk factor for adult psychopathology no matter the person's race. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Emil F Coccaro
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
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Goreis A, Nater UM, Mewes R. Psychological Consequences of Chronic Ethnic Discrimination in Male Turkish Immigrants Living in Austria: A 30-Day Ambulatory Assessment Study. Ann Behav Med 2024; 58:111-121. [PMID: 37857265 PMCID: PMC10831213 DOI: 10.1093/abm/kaad061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic ethnic discrimination may be associated with negative psychological consequences in ethnic minority groups. However, little is known about the impact of acute discriminatory events on people who experience chronic ethnic discrimination. PURPOSE We examined the impact of chronic and acute ethnic discrimination on the daily lives of Turkish immigrants in Austria, a population often overlooked in discrimination research. METHODS Ninety male Turkish immigrants living in Austria (60 experiencing chronic and 30 infrequent ethnic discrimination) reported discriminatory events in real time for 30 days. Additionally, subjective stress, reactivity to daily hassles, affect, and maladaptive coping were assessed daily. RESULTS Participants experiencing chronic ethnic discrimination indicated higher daily values for stress, negative affect, reactivity to daily hassles, and anticipation and avoidance coping. Negative psychological states increased for all participants on days when discriminatory events occurred, but participants with chronic ethnic discrimination showed significantly stronger increases in maladaptive coping and reactivity to daily hassles, with the latter effect persisting until the next day. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to demonstrate interaction effects of chronic and acute ethnic discrimination on psychological factors in daily life. The results may advance the understanding of the mechanisms that lead to health disparities in ethnic minority populations and may inform the development of targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Goreis
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- University Research Platform “The Stress of Life – Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Urs M Nater
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ricarda Mewes
- Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- University Research Platform “The Stress of Life – Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress”, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Martin ZT, Al-Daas IO, Cardenas N, Kolade JO, Merlau ER, Vu JK, Brown KK, Brothers RM. Peripheral and Cerebral Vasodilation in Black and White Women: Examining the Impact of Psychosocial Stress Exposure Versus Internalization and Coping. Hypertension 2023; 80:2122-2134. [PMID: 37534492 PMCID: PMC10530116 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.123.21230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black women have among the highest rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease prevalence and mortality in part due to blunted vascular function. Psychosocial stress likely also contributes but its relationship to vascular function remains incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that stress internalization and coping strategies are more important than stress exposures alone. We hypothesized that Black women would have blunted peripheral and cerebral vasodilation and that, among Black women, this would be inversely related with psychosocial stress internalization/coping but not stress exposures. METHODS Healthy Black (n=21; 20±2 years) and White (n=16; 25±7 years) women underwent testing for forearm reactive hyperemia, brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and cerebrovascular reactivity. Psychosocial stress exposures (adverse childhood experiences; past week discrimination) and internalization/coping techniques (John Henryism Active Coping Scale; Giscombe Superwoman Schema Questionnaire) were assessed. RESULTS Reactive hyperemia and cerebrovascular reactivity were not different between groups (P>0.05), whereas FMD was lower in Black women (P=0.007). Neither adverse childhood experiences nor past week discrimination were associated with FMD in either group (P>0.05 for all). John Henryism Active Coping Scale scores were negatively associated with FMD in Black women (P=0.014) but positively associated with FMD in White women (P=0.042). Superwoman Schema-Succeed was negatively associated (P=0.044) and Superwoman Schema-Vulnerable tended to be negatively associated (P=0.057) with FMD in Black women. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that blunted FMD in Black women may be due more to stress internalization and maladaptive coping than stress exposures alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary T Martin
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - Iman O Al-Daas
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - Natalia Cardenas
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - John O Kolade
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - Emily R Merlau
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - Joshua K Vu
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - Kyrah K Brown
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
| | - R Matthew Brothers
- Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX
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Birditt KS, Turkelson A, Javaid S, Gonzalez R, Antonucci T. Implications of Cumulative Life Event Stress for Daily Stress Exposure and Cardiovascular Reactivity Among Black and White Americans. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2023; 78:1224-1235. [PMID: 37057965 PMCID: PMC10292837 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbad054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Daily stress and cardiovascular reactivity may be important mechanisms linking cumulative life event stress with cardiovascular health and may help to explain racial health disparities. However, studies have yet to examine links between exposure to life event stress, daily stress exposure, and cardiovascular reactivity. This study assessed links between trajectories of life event stress exposure, daily stressors, and cardiovascular reactivity among Black and White individuals. METHODS Participants are from the Stress and Well-being in Everyday Life Study in which 238 individuals (109 Black 129 White; ages 33-93), drawn from the longitudinal Social Relations Study, reported life event stress in 1992, 2005, 2015, and 2018. Of those individuals, 169 completed an ecological momentary assessment study in which they reported stress exposure every 3 hr, and 164 wore a heart rate monitor for up to 5 days. RESULTS Latent class growth curve models revealed 2 longitudinal trajectories of life event stress: moderate-increasing and low-decreasing. Individuals in the moderate-increasing stress trajectory reported greater daily stress exposure and links did not vary by race. Black individuals in the low-decreasing trajectory and White individuals in the moderate-increasing trajectory showed positive associations between daily stress and heart rate (i.e., were reactive to daily stress exposure). The link between daily stress and heart rate was not significant among Black individuals in the moderate-increasing trajectory and White individuals in the low-decreasing trajectory. DISCUSSION Individuals who experience more life events across the adult life course report greater daily stress exposure which has important implications for daily cardiovascular health. Black individuals with moderate-increasing life event stress show evidence of blunted daily stress reactivity (nonsignificant association between daily stress and heart rate) whereas Black individuals with low-decreasing life event stress show evidence of stress reactivity (positive association between daily stress and heart rate). White individuals showed the opposite pattern (albeit marginally). These findings expand the weathering hypothesis and indicate that chronic life event stress may be associated with blunted stress reactivity among Black individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kira S Birditt
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Angela Turkelson
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sarah Javaid
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Richard Gonzalez
- Research Center for Group Dynamics, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Toni Antonucci
- Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Martin ZT, Al-Daas IO, Cardenas N, Kolade JO, Merlau ER, Vu JK, Brown KK, Brothers RM. Peripheral and Cerebral Vascular Reactivity in Black and White Women: Examining the Impact of Psychosocial Stress Exposure Versus Internalization and Coping. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.03.16.23287388. [PMID: 36993407 PMCID: PMC10055599 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.16.23287388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Black women have the highest rates of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease prevalence and mortality in part due to blunted vascular function. Psychosocial stress likely also contributes but its relationship to vascular function remains incompletely understood. Recent studies suggest that internalization and coping strategies are more important than stress exposure alone. We hypothesized that Black women have blunted peripheral and cerebral vascular function and that, among Black women, this would be inversely related with psychosocial stress internalization/coping but not stress exposures. Healthy Black ( n = 21; 20 ± 2 yr) and White ( n = 16; 25 ± 7 yr) women underwent testing for forearm reactive hyperemia (RH), brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). Psychosocial stress exposure (adverse childhood experiences, ACEs; past week discrimination, PWD) and internalization/coping techniques (John Henryism Active Coping Scale, JHAC12; Giscombe Superwoman Schema Questionnaire, G-SWS-Q) were assessed. RH and CVR ( p > 0.05) were not different between groups whereas FMD was lower in Black women ( p = 0.007). Neither ACEs nor PWD were associated with FMD in either group ( p > 0.05 for all). JHAC12 scores were negatively associated with FMD in Black women ( p = 0.014) but positively associated with FMD in White women ( p = 0.042). SWS-Succeed was negatively associated ( p = 0.044) and SWS-Vulnerable tended to be negatively associated ( p = 0.057) with FMD in Black women. These findings indicate that blunted FMD in Black women may be due more to internalization and maladaptive coping than stress exposure alone.
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Mrug S, Pollock J, Pollock D, Seifert M, Johnson KA, Knight DC. Early Life Stress, Coping, and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Acute Social Stress. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:118-129. [PMID: 36728859 PMCID: PMC9918702 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Early life stress (ELS) occurring during childhood and adolescence is an established risk factor for later cardiovascular disease and dysregulated reactivity to acute social stress. This study examined whether ELS associations with baseline cardiovascular functioning, cardiovascular stress reactivity and recovery, and emotional stress reactivity vary across levels of emotion-oriented, task-oriented, and avoidant coping styles. METHODS The sample included 1027 adolescents and young adults (mean age = 19.29 years; 50% female; 64% Black, 34% non-Hispanic White) who reported on their ELS exposure and coping styles. Participants completed a standardized acute social stress test (the Trier Social Stress Test [TSST]), with heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) measured before, during, and after the TSST. Self-reports of negative emotions during the TSST indexed emotional stress reactivity. RESULTS Multiple regression models adjusting for demographic factors and body mass index showed that ELS was associated with lower HR stress reactivity, avoidant coping was related to lower systolic BP and diastolic BP during stress and lower systolic BP during recovery, and higher emotion-oriented coping and lower task-oriented coping predicted greater emotional stress reactivity. A consistent pattern emerged where emotion-oriented coping amplified the associations between ELS and maladaptive stress responses (blunted cardiovascular stress reactivity and recovery; enhanced emotional stress reactivity), whereas lower levels of emotion-oriented coping were associated with resilient profiles among those who experienced ELS (lower resting HR, lower emotional stress reactivity, average HR and BP stress reactivity and recovery). However, low levels of emotion-oriented coping also conferred a risk of higher BP during recovery for those with high levels of ELS. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that low to moderate levels of emotion-oriented coping promote optimal cardiovascular and emotional reactivity to acute stress among individuals exposed to ELS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Mrug
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Jennifer Pollock
- CardioRenal Physiology and Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - David Pollock
- CardioRenal Physiology and Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | - Michael Seifert
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
| | | | - David C. Knight
- Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
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Goreis A, Nater UM, Skoluda N, Mewes R. Psychobiological effects of chronic ethnic discrimination in Turkish immigrants: Stress responses to standardized face-to-face discrimination in the laboratory. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 142:105785. [PMID: 35523028 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ethnic discrimination negatively affects the health of ethnic minorities. The dysregulation of psychobiological stress systems, such as the autonomic nervous system (ANS) or the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, might be an intermediary in this association and chronicity of ethnic discrimination may matter. We studied stress responses to a standardized discriminatory event in Turkish immigrants living in Austria. BACKGROUND Seventy-two male Turkish immigrants were recruited; n = 35 had experienced high levels of ethnic discrimination (high), n = 37 infrequent ethnic discrimination (low). During a two-hour laboratory appointment, they underwent a previously validated 10-minute ethnic discrimination paradigm, i.e., a simulated physician's consultation with verbal and non-verbal discriminatory cues. Perceived stress, perceived discrimination, salivary cortisol, and alpha-amylase were assessed seven times, and ANS measures (heart rate, heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity) were measured continuously. In addition, hair cortisol concentrations were determined. RESULTS The ethnic discrimination paradigm elicited stress responses across all outcomes in both groups. Compared to the low group, the high group reported higher levels of perceived stress and discrimination, exhibited a less steep increase in cortisol in response to the paradigm, and showed higher hair cortisol concentrations. No group differences were found regarding ANS measures. CONCLUSIONS The combination of high subjective stress, flattened cortisol responses, and relatively high hair cortisol concentrations may indicate a dysregulation of the HPA axis in chronic ethnic discrimination. A better understanding of the psychobiological effects of chronic ethnic discrimination is crucial given that alterations in stress response systems may, over time, lead to illness and ultimately to substantial health inequities in ethnic minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Goreis
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life - Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Urs M Nater
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life - Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Nadine Skoluda
- Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life - Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ricarda Mewes
- Outpatient Unit for Research, Teaching and Practice, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life - Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Streed CG, Beach LB, Caceres BA, Dowshen NL, Moreau KL, Mukherjee M, Poteat T, Radix A, Reisner SL, Singh V. Assessing and Addressing Cardiovascular Health in People Who Are Transgender and Gender Diverse: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2021; 144:e136-e148. [PMID: 34235936 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000001003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that people who are transgender and gender diverse (TGD) are impacted by disparities across a variety of cardiovascular risk factors compared with their peers who are cisgender. Prior literature has characterized disparities in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality as a result of a higher prevalence of health risk behaviors. Mounting research has revealed that cardiovascular risk factors at the individual level likely do not fully account for increased risk in cardiovascular health disparities among people who are TGD. Excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is hypothesized to be driven in part by psychosocial stressors across the lifespan at multiple levels, including structural violence (eg, discrimination, affordable housing, access to health care). This American Heart Association scientific statement reviews the existing literature on the cardiovascular health of people who are TGD. When applicable, the effects of gender-affirming hormone use on individual cardiovascular risk factors are also reviewed. Informed by a conceptual model building on minority stress theory, this statement identifies research gaps and provides suggestions for improving cardiovascular research and clinical care for people who are TGD, including the role of resilience-promoting factors. Advancing the cardiovascular health of people who are TGD requires a multifaceted approach that integrates best practices into research, health promotion, and cardiovascular care for this understudied population.
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Harris KM, Jacoby DL, Lampert R, Soucier RJ, Burg MM. Psychological stress in heart failure: a potentially actionable disease modifier. Heart Fail Rev 2020; 26:561-575. [PMID: 33215323 DOI: 10.1007/s10741-020-10056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Psychological stress is common in patients with heart failure, due in part to the complexities of effective disease self-management and progressively worsening functional limitations, including frequent symptom exacerbations and hospitalizations. Emerging evidence suggests that heart failure patients who experience higher levels of stress may have a more burdensome disease course, with diminished quality of life and increased risk for adverse events, and that multiple behavioral and pathophysiological pathways are involved. Furthermore, the reduced quality of life associated with heart failure can serve as a life stressor for many patients. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of the science concerning psychological stress in patients with heart failure and to discuss potential pathways responsible for the observed effects. Key knowledge gaps are also outlined, including the need to understand patterns of exposure to various heart failure-related and daily life stressors and their associated effects on heart failure symptoms and pathophysiology, to identify patient subgroups at increased risk for stress exposure and disease-related consequences, and the effect of stress specifically for patients who have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Stress is a potentially modifiable factor, and addressing these gaps and advancing the science of stress in heart failure is likely to yield important insights about actionable pathways for improving patient quality of life and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie M Harris
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. .,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Department of Cardiology, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Daniel L Jacoby
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rachel Lampert
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Richard J Soucier
- Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Trinity Health of New England, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Matthew M Burg
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Department of Cardiology, West Haven, CT, USA.,Yale School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, New Haven, CT, USA
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