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Hellwig AF, Wroblewski KL, Krol KM, Connelly JJ, Allen JP. Epigenetic regulation of the oxytocin system as an indicator of adaptation to over-controlling parenting and psychosocial functioning in adulthood. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 168:107123. [PMID: 39002450 PMCID: PMC11332246 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107123] [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] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
The oxytocin system plays a role in social stress adaptation, and this role is likely to be particularly important in adolescence. One method of regulating the oxytocin system is through DNA methylation in the promoter of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm), which reduces the gene's expression. This multi-method, longitudinal study, using a diverse community sample of 184 adolescents followed from age 13-28, examined the links between OXTRm and exposure to over-controlling parenting in adolescence and conflict with romantic partners and internalizing symptoms in adulthood. Female, but not male, adolescents who were exposed to psychologically controlling parenting at age 13 had lower levels of OXTRm at site -924 at age 28. Reduced OXTRm at site -924 was associated with greater romantic partner-reported relationship conflict at age 27, and reduced OXTRm at site -934 was marginally associated with greater participant-reported conflict for males. Reduced OXTRm at site -924 was also associated with fewer internalizing symptoms at ages 24-25. These results in adulthood are consistent with an upregulated oxytocin system reducing the salience of negative socioemotional stimuli. Overall, findings are consistent with oxytocin playing a role in the stress response system, and more specifically, by helping us to adapt to social environments like parenting and romantic relationships, reducing the salience of negativity, and reducing risk for common emotional problems.
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Fedurek P, Aktipis A, Cronk L, Danel D, Lacroix L, Lehmann J, Mabulla I, Makambi JE, Berbesque JC. Prosocial reputation and stress among contemporary hunter-gatherers: the Hadza case. Sci Rep 2024; 14:21403. [PMID: 39271949 PMCID: PMC11399269 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-72238-w] [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: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that having a reputation for being prosocial is a critical part of social status across all human societies. It has also been argued that prosocial behavior confers benefits, whether physiological, such as stress reduction, or social, such as building allies or becoming more popular. Here, we investigate the relationship between helping reputation (being named as someone others would go to for help), and hair-derived chronic stress (hair cortisol concentration). In a sample of 77 women and 62 men, we found that perceived helping reputation was not related to chronic stress. Overall, the results of our study suggest that, in an egalitarian society with fluid camp membership and widely practiced generosity such as the Hadza, helping reputation does not necessarily boost stress-related health benefits through prestige-signaling mechanisms observed in hierarchical, large-scale societies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Fedurek
- School of Human and Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, UK.
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, IITD PAN, Podwale 75, 50-449, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Athena Aktipis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Lee Cronk
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Dariusz Danel
- Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, IITD PAN, Podwale 75, 50-449, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Laurent Lacroix
- Health Sciences Research Centre, Roehampton University, London, UK
| | - Julia Lehmann
- School of Human and Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | | | - Jerryson E Makambi
- Mount Meru Tour Guide and International Language School, Arusha, Tanzania
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Fuentes-Vilugrón G, Sandoval-Obando E, Caamaño-Navarrete F, Arriagada-Hernández C, Etchegaray-Pezo P, Muñoz-Troncoso F, Cuadrado-Gordillo I, del Val Martín P, Riquelme-Mella E. Difficulties among Teachers' Emotional Regulation: Analysis for the Development of Student Well-Being in Chilean Schools. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:749. [PMID: 39335965 PMCID: PMC11428235 DOI: 10.3390/bs14090749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emotional regulation, a process that involves detecting and evaluating physiological signals in response to stressful events, is a crucial aspect of preparing students for school and ensuring teachers' effectiveness, stress management, and job satisfaction. METHOD This research, which adopted a quantitative approach, used a non-experimental comparative and cross-sectional design with a non-probabilistic sample by convenience. The study involved the participation of n = 1321 teachers (n = 125 preschool education; n = 645 primary education; n = 417 secondary education; n = 134 higher education). RESULTS The results revealed significant differences in the total scores of emotional regulation difficulty between teachers at the higher education level and primary and secondary school teachers, with the latter group showing higher levels of difficulty. DISCUSSION The findings suggest that the impact of emotional regulation difficulties affects professional performance, highlighting the importance of interventions aimed at improving teachers' self-efficacy, resilience, and emotion regulation to reduce emotional exhaustion. CONCLUSION From a practical point of view, our findings underline the importance of integrating emotional regulation training into pre-service teacher education and continuous teacher professional development programs. This could improve relational dynamics between students and teachers, fostering an environment conducive to teaching and learning processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Fuentes-Vilugrón
- Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (G.F.-V.); (P.E.-P.)
| | - Eduardo Sandoval-Obando
- Escuela de Psicología, Instituto Iberoamericano de Desarrollo Sostenible, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4800916, Chile;
| | - Felipe Caamaño-Navarrete
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.)
- Grupo de Investigación Colaborativa para el Desarrollo Escolar (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Carlos Arriagada-Hernández
- Physical Education Career, Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (F.C.-N.); (C.A.-H.)
- Grupo de Investigación Colaborativa para el Desarrollo Escolar (GICDE), Temuco 4780000, Chile
| | - Paulo Etchegaray-Pezo
- Faculty of Education, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Temuco 4780000, Chile; (G.F.-V.); (P.E.-P.)
| | | | - Isabel Cuadrado-Gordillo
- Department of Psychology and Anthropology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Pablo del Val Martín
- Facultad de Educación y Ciencias Sociales, Observatorio Chileno de Educación Física y Deporte Escolar, Universidad Andres Bello, Las Condes, Santiago 7550000, Chile;
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Strojny J, von Dawans B, Schächinger H, Domes G. Hydrocortisone reduces altruistic punishment in healthy men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 165:107027. [PMID: 38537418 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107027] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress modulates social cognition and behavior in humans. One potentially mediating factor is cortisol as part of the human endocrine stress response. With a double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subject study design, we tested possible dose-dependent effects of hydrocortisone (0 mg, 5 mg and 20 mg) in 85 healthy males. During a socio-economic decision-making task we measured trust, trustworthiness, sharing, punishment, and non-social risk behavior. Social value orientation (SVO) was also assessed. We observed significantly lower levels of punishment after hydrocortisone, especially in the 20 mg group. Drug-induced salivary cortisol correlated negatively with punishment behavior. None of the other facets of social behavior or the SVO were affected by hydrocortisone. Our results suggest that hydrocortisone reduces the propensity to punish unfair behavior. Future studies are needed to further disentangle the role played by various psychobiological mechanisms within the stress response as well as their complex interplay on social behavior and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Strojny
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany
| | - Bernadette von Dawans
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany.
| | | | - Gregor Domes
- Biological & Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany; Institute for Cognitive & Affective Neuroscience, University of Trier, Germany
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Ilkevič E, Hausmann M, Grikšienė R. Emotion recognition and regulation in males: Role of sex and stress steroids. Front Neuroendocrinol 2024; 74:101145. [PMID: 38862092 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2024.101145] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Understanding emotions in males is crucial given their higher susceptibility to substance use, interpersonal violence, and suicide compared to females. Steroid hormones are assumed to be critical biological factors that affect and modulate emotion-related behaviors, together with psychological and social factors. This review explores whether males' abilities to recognize emotions of others and regulate their own emotions are associated with testosterone, cortisol, and their interaction. Higher levels of testosterone were associated with improved recognition and heightened sensitivity to threatening faces. In contrast, higher cortisol levels positively impacted emotion regulation ability. Indirect evidence from neuroimaging research suggested a link between higher testosterone levels and difficulties in cognitive emotion regulation. However, this notion must be investigated in future studies using different emotion regulation strategies and considering social status. The present review contributes to the understanding of how testosterone and cortisol affect psychological well-being and emotional behavior in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Ilkevič
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania
| | | | - Ramunė Grikšienė
- Department of Neurobiology and Biophysics, Life Science Center, Vilnius University, Lithuania.
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Linde-Krieger LB, Rudd KL, Aringer AS, Yates TM. A longitudinal investigation of caregiving and adolescent post-traumatic stress symptoms during COVID-19: evidence for high resting RSA as a susceptibility factor. Psychol Med 2024; 54:2457-2467. [PMID: 38481341 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172400059x] [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] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were the most frequently reported mental health concern for youth during COVID-19, yet variations in youth's PTSS responses warrant empirical consideration. Features of the caregiving environment influence youth's responses to environmental stressors, and youth's parasympathetic nervous system regulation may qualify the magnitude and/or direction of these effects. This prospective investigation evaluated diathesis stress and differential susceptibility models of caregiving and parasympathetic influences on youth's PTSS responses to COVID-19. METHOD Participants were 225 caregiver-youth dyads (youth 49.8% female at birth; 88.4% non-white) followed from childhood through adolescence and COVID-19. Youth's resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; Mage = 6.11, s.d. = 0.21), caregiving features (i.e. attachment security [youth Mage = 12.24, s.d. = 0.35] and caregiver internalizing psychopathology [caregiver Mage = 39.29, s.d. = 6.78]) were assessed pre-pandemic. Youth's PTSS was assessed one year prior to the US COVID-19 pandemic (Mage = 14.24, s.d. = 0.50) and during the spring of 2020 at the height of the pandemic (Mage = 15.23, s.d. = 0.57). RESULTS Youth's PTSS increased during COVID-19. Youth with relatively high resting RSA evidenced the lowest PTSS when their caregiving environment featured high attachment security or low caregiver internalizing problems, but the highest PTSS when their caregiving environment featured low attachment security or high caregiver internalizing problems. In contrast, PTSS levels of youth with relatively low or average resting RSA did not differ significantly depending on attachment security or caregiver internalizing. CONCLUSIONS Results are consistent with a differential susceptibility hypothesis, wherein relatively high resting RSA conferred heightened sensitivity to caregiving environments in a for-better-and-for-worse manner during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnea B Linde-Krieger
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Kristen L Rudd
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | | | - Tuppett M Yates
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
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Chand K, Chandra S, Dutt V. A comprehensive evaluation of linear and non-linear HRV parameters between paced breathing and stressful mental state. Heliyon 2024; 10:e32195. [PMID: 38873683 PMCID: PMC11170182 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32195] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Heart rate variability (HRV) is a crucial metric that provides valuable insight into the balance between relaxation and stress. Previous research has shown that most HRV parameters improve during periods of mental relaxation, while decreasing during tasks involving cognitive workload. Although a comprehensive analysis of both linear and non-linear HRV parameters has been carried out in existing literature, there still exists a need for further research in this area. Additionally, limited knowledge exists regarding how specific interventions may influence the interpretation of these parameters and how the different parameters correlate under different interventions. This study aims to address these gaps by conducting a thorough comparison of different linear and non-linear HRV parameters under mentally relaxed versus stressful states. Methodology Participants were randomly and equally divided among two between-subjects groups: relaxed-stress (RS) (N = 22) and stress-relaxed (SR) (N = 22). In the RS group, a paced breathing task was given for 5 min to create relaxation, and was followed by a 5-min time-based mental calculation task to create stress. In the SR group, the order of the stress and relaxed tasks was reversed. There was a washout period of 15 min after the first task in both groups. Results Of the 37 HRV parameters, 33 differed significantly between the two interventions. The majority of the parameters exhibited an improving and degrading tendency of HRV parameters in the relaxed and stressed states, respectively. The correlation of the majority of HRV parameters decreases during stress, while prominent time domain and geometric domain parameters stand out in the correlation. Conclusion Overall, HRV parameters can be reliably used to assess a person's relaxed and stressed mental states during paced breathing and mental arithmetic task respectively. Furthermore, non-linear HRV parameters provide accurate estimators of the mental state, in addition to the commonly used linear parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kulbhushan Chand
- IIT Mandi iHub and HCi Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, HP, India , 175005
| | - Shilpa Chandra
- Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, HP, India , 175005
| | - Varun Dutt
- Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Kamand, HP, India , 175005
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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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Wang H, Wu X, Xu J, Zhu R, Zhang S, Xu Z, Mai X, Qin S, Liu C. Acute stress during witnessing injustice shifts third-party interventions from punishing the perpetrator to helping the victim. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002195. [PMID: 38754078 PMCID: PMC11098560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
People tend to intervene in others' injustices by either punishing the transgressor or helping the victim. Injustice events often occur under stressful circumstances. However, how acute stress affects a third party's intervention in injustice events remains open. Here, we show a stress-induced shift in third parties' willingness to engage in help instead of punishment by acting on emotional salience and central-executive and theory-of-mind networks. Acute stress decreased the third party's willingness to punish the violator and the severity of the punishment and increased their willingness to help the victim. Computational modeling revealed a shift in preference of justice recovery from punishment the offender toward help the victim under stress. This finding is consistent with the increased dorsolateral prefrontal engagement observed with higher amygdala activity and greater connectivity with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex in the stress group. A brain connectivity theory-of-mind network predicted stress-induced justice recovery in punishment. Our findings suggest a neurocomputational mechanism of how acute stress reshapes third parties' decisions by reallocating neural resources in emotional, executive, and mentalizing networks to inhibit punishment bias and decrease punishment severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huagen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahua Xu
- Psychiatry Research Center, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University Huilonguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Ruida Zhu
- Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sihui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenhua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Mai
- Department of Psychology, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Center for Collaboration and Innovation in Brain and Learning Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
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Witczak LR, Samra J, Dufek M, Goetze LR, Freeman SM, Lau AR, Rothwell ES, Savidge LE, Arias-Del Razo R, Baxter A, Karaskiewicz CL, Ferrer E, Bales KL. Expression of bond-related behaviors affects titi monkey responsiveness to oxytocin and vasopressin treatments. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2024; 1534:118-129. [PMID: 38442081 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.15119] [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] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Social bonds influence physiology and behavior, which can shape how individuals respond to physical and affective challenges. Coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) offspring form selective bonds with their fathers, making them ideal for investigating how father-daughter bonds influence juveniles' responses to oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) manipulations. We quantified the expression of father-daughter bond-related behaviors in females (n = 10) and gave acute intranasal treatments of saline, low/medium/high OT, low/high AVP, or an OT receptor antagonist (OTA) to subjects prior to a parent preference test. While females spent more time in proximity to their parents than strangers, we found a large degree of individual variation. Females with greater expression of bonding behaviors responded to OT treatments in a dose-dependent manner. Subjects also spent less time in proximity to strangers when treated with High OT (p = 0.003) and Low OT (p = 0.007), but more time when treated with High AVP (p = 0.007), Low AVP (p = 0.009), and OTA (p = 0.001). Findings from the present study suggest that variation in the expression of bond-related behaviors may alter responsiveness to OT and AVP, increasing engagement with unfamiliar social others. This enhanced sociality with strangers may promote the formation of pair bonds with partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jaclyn Samra
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Madison Dufek
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Leana R Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sara M Freeman
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Allison R Lau
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Emily S Rothwell
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Logan E Savidge
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rocío Arias-Del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alexander Baxter
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chloe L Karaskiewicz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Emilio Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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Stout ME, Keirns BH, Medlin AR, Patel DJ, Byrd-Craven J, Hawkins MAW. Decreased salivary alpha-amylase reactivity for excluded young women after a speech task. Physiol Behav 2024; 277:114501. [PMID: 38387846 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114501] [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] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) has gained popularity as an easily collected biomarker for sympathetic nervous system activation, and research has shown increases in sAA after completing experimental stress tasks in certain groups. However, recent work suggests that salivary cortisol, another stress biomarker, is suppressed after a speech task among experimentally induced exclusion in young women. The present analysis investigated the sAA response in biologically female undergraduates (n=31) who completed a game of Cyberball and then a speech anticipation task. Results showed that women in the social exclusion experimental group had a greater decrease in sAA compared to young women in the inclusion group after the speech task. Results of this study provide support for stress response suppression in women who have experienced social exclusion. The present findings provide pilot evidence for future, larger studies to advance the tend-and-befriend theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison E Stout
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; Health Systems Research (HSR), Center for Health Information and Communication (CHIC), Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, 1481 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Bryant H Keirns
- Department of Nutrition and Health Science, HB 530, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, 47303, USA
| | - Austin R Medlin
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, 1025 E. 7th St, Suite 111, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Devanshi J Patel
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis, Department of Psychology, 116 Psychology Building Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Jennifer Byrd-Craven
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, 116 Psychology Building, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA; The Oklahoma Center for Evolutionary Analysis, Department of Psychology, 116 Psychology Building Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
| | - Misty A W Hawkins
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, 1025 E. 7th St, Suite 111, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
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Sippel LM, Liebman RE, Schäfer SK, Ennis N, Mattern AC, Rozek DC, Monson CM. Sources of Social Support and Trauma Recovery: Evidence for Bidirectional Associations from a Recently Trauma-Exposed Community Sample. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:284. [PMID: 38667080 PMCID: PMC11047467 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Although the association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and social support is well documented, few studies have tested the causal pathways explaining this association at several points in the acute post-trauma recovery period or examined whether the association varies for different sources of social support. To address these gaps, 151 community individuals (mean age = 37.20 years, 69.5% women) exposed to trauma within the previous 6 months were recruited to complete measures of PTSD and social support from intimate partners, friends, and relatives four times in 1 year. In line with recent recommendations for research on social support and PTSD symptoms, random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM) was used to examine dynamic changes between PTSD severity and social support over time. The pattern of RI-CLPM cross-lagged coefficients indicated that positive deviations from one's expected stable level of total social support (across all sources) sped up the recovery of PTSD symptoms at the end of the post-trauma year, and more severe PTSD symptoms than expected based on one's expected stable level of PTSD started eroding social support midway through the assessment year. When specific sources of social support were analyzed separately, the association between within-person increases in social support from friends at any given time point accelerated the recovery from PTSD across the entire year. Among participants with intimate partners (n = 53), intimate partner support did not predict PTSD symptoms, but more severe PTSD symptoms at any given time point predicted less support at the following time point. Results from this longitudinal study provide additional support for the bidirectional relationship between PTSD and social support over time and suggest that perceived social support from friends may be especially helpful during trauma recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M. Sippel
- Department of Veterans Affairs Northeast Program Evaluation Center, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
- National Center for PTSD, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Rachel E. Liebman
- Centre for Mental Health, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Sarah K. Schäfer
- Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, 55122 Mainz, Germany
- Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Naomi Ennis
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Alexandra C. Mattern
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - David C. Rozek
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Candice M. Monson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
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Varga K, Nagy ZS. Calm Contact Technique Based on the Endocrinological Mechanism of Hypnosis-A Theoretical Proposal. Brain Sci 2024; 14:83. [PMID: 38248298 PMCID: PMC10813965 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
This paper proposes the "calm contact" technique: an imaginative scenario where someone is in gentle contact with a loved one where the essence of the experience is to enjoy safety and calmness in peaceful social contact. The theoretical background is outlined by combining the brain mechanisms of stress reactions and hypnosis. In addition to the ancient stress responses (flight or fight or freeze), there are oxytocin-based options at the human level: tend and befriend behavior and the state of calm and connection, which is not a stress reaction but a resting reaction. These social-based reactions could prevent the organism from the primitive freezing response. Some studies proved that "hypnosis" as a setting reduces cortisol levels and could raise oxytocin levels. The beneficial mechanisms of the "calm contact" technique are analyzed in relation to "social support" and the psychoaffective effects of central oxytocin. The subjective effects of the proposed technique are outlined based on reports of healthy volunteers. The "calm contact" technique could be an alternative or adjunct to the "safe place" technique, applying the recent findings of endocrinological brain mechanisms of hypnosis. Clinical implications and limitations are briefly summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Varga
- Affective Psychology Department, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1064 Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Lendület Adaptation Research Group, Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1053 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zita S. Nagy
- Mixed Profile Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Department, National Institute for Medical Rehabilitation, 1121 Budapest, Hungary
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Houlihan BV, Ethier E, Veerakone R, Eaves M, Turchi R, Louis CJ, Comeau M. Trauma-Informed Leadership in Quality Improvement: What We Learned From Practicing in a Pandemic. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023063424G. [PMID: 38165240 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-063424g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In 2020, midway through the Collaborative Improvement and Innovation Network to Advance Care for Children with Medical Complexity project, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic erupted and caused significant disruptions for the 10 participating state teams, the project leadership, and collaborative partner organizations. Clinics shut down for in-person care, a scramble ensued to quickly leverage telehealth to fill the gap, and the trauma caused by anxiety, isolation, and exhaustion affected the health and wellbeing of children, families, and clinicians alike. We conducted a series of key informant interviews and surveys, alongside other process measures, to learn from state teams what it was like "on the ground" to try to continue improving care delivery, child quality of life, and family wellbeing under such upheaval. In this article, we synthesize qualitative and descriptive findings from these varied data sources within the framework of the trauma-informed principles we applied as a leadership team to prevent burnout, increase resilience, and maintain progress among all project participants, especially clinicians and the uniquely vulnerable family leaders. Lessons learned will be offered that can be applied to future natural and human-made emergencies that impact responsive pediatric care delivery improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethlyn Vergo Houlihan
- Boston University School of Social Work, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Elizabeth Ethier
- Boston University School of Social Work, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rubina Veerakone
- Boston University School of Social Work, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Megan Eaves
- Boston University School of Social Work, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Renee Turchi
- St Christopher's Hospital for Children & Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Meg Comeau
- Boston University School of Social Work, Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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15
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Arenson M, Forkey H. Violence Exposure and Trauma-Informed Care. Pediatr Clin North Am 2023; 70:1183-1200. [PMID: 37865439 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.06.010] [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: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
Addressing violence in pediatrics requires a working knowledge of trauma-informed care (TIC). TIC weaves together our current understanding of evolution, child development, and human physiology and how these explain common childhood responses to traumatic events. In this article, we describe our current approach to treating childhood trauma in the context of violence. Ultimately, TIC relies on the pediatrician's ability to keep trauma high on their differential diagnosis. TIC leverages a child's natural strengths and biologic processes by (1) scaffolding the patient's relationships to safe, stable, and nurturing adults and (2) strengthening core resilience skills while addressing trauma symptoms when necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Arenson
- UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Center for Child Health Equity.
| | - Heather Forkey
- UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Center for Child Health Equity; Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES); Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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16
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Celidwen Y, Keltner D. Kin relationality and ecological belonging: a cultural psychology of Indigenous transcendence. Front Psychol 2023; 14:994508. [PMID: 37928574 PMCID: PMC10622976 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.994508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we consider prosociality through the lens of an Indigenous "ethics of belonging" and its two constitutive concepts: kin relationality and ecological belonging. Kin relationality predicates that all living beings and phenomena share a familial identity of interdependence, mutuality, and organization. Within the value system of ecological belonging, an individual's identity is constituted in relation to the natural environment, centered on the sentiments of responsibility and reverence for Nature. We detail how Indigenous perspectives upon prosociality differ from Western scientific accounts in terms of the motives, scope, and rewards of altruistic action. Grounded in this understanding, we then profile three self-transcendent states, compassion, gratitude, and awe, and their similarities across Indigenous and Western approaches, and how kin relationality and ecological belonging give rise to cultural variations. We consider convergent insights across Indigenous and Western science concerning the role of ritual and narrative and the cultural cultivation of kin relationality and ecological belonging. We conclude by highlighting how these two core concepts might guide future inquiry in cultural psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuria Celidwen
- Department of Psychology and Othering and Belonging Institute, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Dacher Keltner
- Department of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
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17
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Cavieres G, Bozinovic F, Bogdanovich JM, Rivera DS. Impact of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior and multifractal complexity of metabolic rate in Octodon degus. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1239157. [PMID: 37928446 PMCID: PMC10622977 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1239157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Social interaction can improve animal performance through the prevention of stress-related events, the provision of security, and the enhancement of reproductive output and survival. We investigated the effects of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavioral, cognitive, and physiological performance in the social, long-lived rodent Octodon degus. Degu pups were separated into two social stress treatments: control (CTRL) and chronically isolated (CI) individuals from post-natal and post-weaning until adulthood. We quantified anxiety-like behavior and cognitive performance with a battery of behavioral tests. Additionally, we measured their basal metabolic rate (BMR) and analyzed the multifractal properties of the oxygen consumption time series using Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis, a well-known method for assessing the fractal characteristics of biological signals. Our results showed that CI induced a significant increase in anxiety-like behaviors and led to a reduction in social and working memory in male degus. In addition, CI-treated degus reduced the multifractal complexity of BMR compared to CTRL, which implies a decrease in the ability to respond to environmental stressors and, as a result, an unhealthy state. In contrast, we did not observe significant effects of social stress on BMR. Multivariate analyses showed a clear separation of behavior and physiological variables into two clusters, corresponding to CI and CTRL degus. This study provides novel insights into the effects of prolonged chronic social isolation stress on behavior, cognitive performance, and metabolic complexity in this rodent animal model. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first study to integrate cognitive-behavioral performance and multifractal dynamics of a physiological signal in response to prolonged social isolation. These findings highlight the importance of social interactions for the well-being and overall performance of social animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grisel Cavieres
- Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Bozinovic
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José Miguel Bogdanovich
- Center of Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Daniela S. Rivera
- GEMA Center for Genomics, Ecology and Environment, Facultad de Ciencias, Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
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18
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Shalev I, Eran A, Uzefovsky F. Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy interact with stress to predict mental health, parenting, and relationship outcomes. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1237278. [PMID: 37928564 PMCID: PMC10621795 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1237278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Empathy is a complex, multifaceted ability allowing for the most basic forms of social communication and plays a prominent role in multiple aspects of everyday lives. In this intensive longitudinal study, we assessed how empathy interacts with stress to predict central domains of psychosocial functioning: mental health, romantic relationships, and parenting. Methods Fluctuations and individual differences in empathy were assessed across eight time points, where participants from the general population (N = 566) self-reported their empathy, stress, depressive symptoms, romantic satisfaction, and parental functioning. Results Both trait and state aspects of empathy were associated with all psychosocial outcomes, with state empathy showing a stronger effect. Additionally, empathy components interacted with stress-emotional empathy better-predicted outcomes under high stress, while cognitive empathy under low stress. Discussion Our findings advance the theoretical understanding of empathy, emphasizing the effects of state-dependent empathy fluctuations on our everyday mental and social lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Shalev
- Department of Psychology, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Alal Eran
- Computational Health Informatics Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
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Schiller B, Brustkern J, von Dawans B, Habermann M, Pacurar M, Heinrichs M. Social high performers under stress behave more prosocially and detect happy emotions better in a male sample. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 156:106338. [PMID: 37499422 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106338] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is increasing in society, impacting our lives in all social domains. However, the conditions under which stress facilitates ("tend-and-befriend") or hinders ("fight-or-flight") social approach remain elusive. We tested whether previous heterogeneous findings might be resolved by accounting for individual differences in social performance under stress. For that purpose, we introduce the novel Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) social performance index that was aggregated across ratings from two independent observers. Moreover, we apply an innovative setup enabling electroencephalographic (EEG) data to be measured inside an electrically-shielded cabin during stress, namely the TSST-EEG. Relying on a sample of 59 healthy male participants, we collected behavioral (i.e., sharing resources with others) and cognitive (i.e., detecting facial emotional expressions) approach patterns while participants experienced either acute psychosocial stress (n = 31) or no stress (control condition; n = 28) and while EEG was being recorded. During stress exposure, high-performing participants behaved more prosocially, and differentiated better between happy and neutral emotions on both behavioral and neurophysiological levels (revealed by intensity differences in a N170-like response). Overall, our findings demonstrate the added value of both the novel TSST social performance index and the novel TSST-EEG setup. By showing that high social performance during the TSST is associated with behavioral, cognitive, and neurophysiological approach patterns, our study offers valuable insights into adaptive or maladaptive psychobiological mechanisms in coping with psychosocial stress. Future stress research should address the role of social performance differences during stress in social interaction to better understand the behavioral consequences of psychosocial stress in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Schiller
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Johanna Brustkern
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernadette von Dawans
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Johanniterufer 15, 54290 Trier, Germany
| | - Marie Habermann
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marti Pacurar
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Asklepios Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Röntgenstr. 22, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Markus Heinrichs
- Laboratory for Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Straße 8, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, University Medical Center, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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Smith S, Tallon M, Smith J, Jones L, Mörelius E. COVID-19 in Western Australia: 'The last straw' and hopes for a 'new normal' for parents of children with long-term conditions. Health Expect 2023; 26:1863-1873. [PMID: 37309296 PMCID: PMC10485346 DOI: 10.1111/hex.13792] [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] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with long-term conditions are vulnerable due to the treatments required for their conditions. Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Western Australians experienced restrictions that changed daily life activities but were able to return to some of their previous routines due to the restrictions. AIM The study explored the stress experiences of parents caring for children with long-term conditions during COVID-19 in Western Australia. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS The study was codesigned with a parent representative caring for children with long-term conditions to ensure essential questions were targeted. Twelve parents of children with various long-term conditions were recruited. Ten parents completed the qualitative proforma, and two parents were interviewed in November 2020. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were anonymised and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. FINDINGS Two themes were produced: (1) 'Keep my child safe' describes the children's vulnerabilities due to their long-term conditions, the adjustments parents' made to keep their children safe and the various consequences faced. (2) 'COVID-19's silver lining' covers the positives of the COVID-19 pandemic, including their children having fewer infections, the availability of telehealth appointments, relationship improvements and the parent's hopes for a new normal where behaviours prevent transmission of infectious (e.g., hand sanitising). CONCLUSION Western Australia provided a unique context for the COVID-19 pandemic due to no transmission of the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at the time of the study. The tend and befriend theory aids in explaining the parents' stress experiences, and the application highlights a unique aspect of this theory. Parents tended to their children during COVID-19, but many could no longer rely on others for connection, support and respite, and became further isolated in attempting to protect their children due to COVID-19 consequences. The findings highlight that some parents of children with long-term conditions need specific attention during times of pandemics. Further review is recommended to support parents through the impact of COVID-19 and similar crises. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION This study was codesigned with an experienced parent representative who was part of the research team and involved throughout the research process to ensure meaningful end-user engagement and ensure essential questions and priorities were addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Smith
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyEdith Cowan UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Curtin Medical SchoolCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Telethon Kids InstitutePerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Mary Tallon
- School of NursingCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Child and Adolescent Health ServicePerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - James Smith
- School of Population HealthCurtin UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- School of Medical and Health SciencesEdith Cowan UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Lauren Jones
- Parent RepresentativeBunburyWestern AustraliaAustralia
| | - Evalotte Mörelius
- School of Nursing and MidwiferyEdith Cowan UniversityPerthWestern AustraliaAustralia
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring SciencesLinköping UniversityLinköpingSweden
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Murphy ER, Cox DJ, Fisseha F, Gunthert KC. Category-Specific Stress Mindsets: Beliefs about the Debilitating versus Enhancing Effects of Specific Types of Stressors among Young Adults. Behav Sci (Basel) 2023; 13:709. [PMID: 37753987 PMCID: PMC10525852 DOI: 10.3390/bs13090709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, research has shown that stress mindsets, or the degree to which people believe that stress is enhancing versus debilitating, impact the ways they process and react to stress. However, young adults encounter various forms of stress, which might elicit different stress mindsets. This study investigated (1) how much young adults think about specific types of stressors as they complete stress mindset measures and (2) how stress mindsets vary across stressor types. METHOD Participants (n = 182) completed measures of general and category-specific stress mindsets (academic, interpersonal, identity-based, illness, societal, financial) and rated how much they thought of each category when completing the general mindset measure. RESULTS Academic stress was the most salient, and identity-based discrimination was the least salient as participants completed the stress mindset measure. Academic stress was perceived as the most stress-enhancing, and illness stressors were rated as the least stress-enhancing. Cisgender women reported stronger stress-is-debilitating mindsets for interpersonal and illness/injury-related stressors as compared with cisgender men. CONCLUSION Stress mindset ratings in research studies might be weighted toward certain types of stressors. Further, young adults' mindsets differ across different stressor categories. This nuance has implications for how we conceptualize stress mindset in interventions and research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elijah R. Murphy
- Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA; (D.J.C.); (F.F.); (K.C.G.)
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA
| | - Diana J. Cox
- Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA; (D.J.C.); (F.F.); (K.C.G.)
| | - Feven Fisseha
- Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA; (D.J.C.); (F.F.); (K.C.G.)
| | - Kathleen C. Gunthert
- Department of Psychology, American University, Washington, DC 20016, USA; (D.J.C.); (F.F.); (K.C.G.)
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Blasberg JU, Gallistl M, Degering M, Baierlein F, Engert V. You look stressed: A pilot study on facial action unit activity in the context of psychosocial stress. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2023; 15:100187. [PMID: 37577295 PMCID: PMC10422124 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Quality and quantity of the human stress response are highly individual. Not only are there differences in terms of psychological and physiological stress reactivity, but also with regard to facial muscle stress reactivity. In a first correlative pilot study to decipher the signature of stress as it presents in the physiognomy of a stressed individual, we investigated how stress-induced muscle movement activity in the face is associated with stress marker activation during a standardized laboratory stress test. Female and male participants (N = 62) completed the Trier Social Stress Test and provided multiple measurements of salivary cortisol, subjective experience, heart rate, and high-frequency heart rate variability. In addition, participants were filmed during stress induction to derive the activation of 13 individual muscles or muscle groups, also termed action units (AU). Mean AU intensity and occurrence rates were measured using the opensource software OpenDBM. We found that facial AU activity correlated with different aspects of the psychosocial stress response. Higher stress-induced cortisol release was associated with more frequent upper eyelid raiser (AU05) and upper lip raiser (AU10) occurrences, while more lip corner pulling (AU12) went along with lower cortisol reactivity. More frequent eyelid tightener (AU07) occurrences were linked to higher subjective stress reactivity but decreased heart rate and HF-HRV reactivity. Last, women showed greater stress-induced smiling intensity and occurrence rates than men. We conclude that psychosocial stress reactivity is systematically linked to facial muscle activity, with distinct facial stress profiles emerging for different stress markers. From all the AUs studied, eyelid tightening (AU07) seems to provide the strongest potential for future attempts of diagnosing phases of acute stress via facial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jost U. Blasberg
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Mathilde Gallistl
- Research Group Social Stress and Family Health, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Magdalena Degering
- Research Group Social Stress and Family Health, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felicitas Baierlein
- Research Group Social Stress and Family Health, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Veronika Engert
- Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, Psychotherapy and Psychooncology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Research Group Social Stress and Family Health, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig, Germany
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Germany
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23
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Clancy EM, Hallford D, March E, Howard D, Toumbourou JW, Klettke B. The Role of Consent and Motivations in Sext Dissemination. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:9315-9342. [PMID: 37067003 PMCID: PMC10668537 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231163886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Sext dissemination (i.e., the online sharing of sexually explicit images) has the potential to result in legal, social, and psychological harms. Recent research has shown that this behavior can be consensual or non-consensual in nature; yet little is known about how motivations or attitudes may differ between these forms, or with gender. This study is based on a cross-sectional online survey investigating consensual and non-consensual sext dissemination and associated demographic, behavioral, attitudinal, and psychological factors. Participants were 2,126 cisgendered adults aged 18 to 30 years (M = 22.97, SD = 3.21, 55% women, 45% men), resident in Western, English-speaking nations, particularly Australia. Around 10% of respondents reported disseminating texts, and of these, only 19.8% indicated they had permission for this, with no differences across gender. When sexts were disseminated "to gossip," this was significantly more likely to be non-consensual. There were no significant differences between consensual and non-consensual dissemination in subjective attitudes or norms toward dissemination, nor levels of psychological distress. Women were more likely to non-consensually disseminate sexts that had been received as unwanted or unwelcome. Consensual dissemination was weakly associated with being sexually active and having given consent to having one's own images disseminated. We discuss implications for future research regarding consent, and relationship and sexuality education.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evita March
- Federation University Australia, Berwick, VIC, Australia
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24
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Török E, Kelemen O, Kéri S. Mentalization, Oxytocin, and Cortisol in the General Population. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1329. [PMID: 37374111 DOI: 10.3390/life13061329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although evidence suggests the role of oxytocin and cortisol in social cognition and emotion regulation, it is less known how their peripheral levels are related to social perception (biological motion detection) and mentalization (self-reflection, emotional awareness, and affect regulation) in the general population. We assessed 150 healthy individuals from the general community on a mentalization questionnaire, a scale measuring the intensity of positive and negative emotions, and measured oxytocin and cortisol levels in the saliva. Oxytocin but not cortisol level and biological motion detection predicted mentalization abilities. There was a positive correlation between mentalization and positive emotions and between mentalization and biological motion detection. These results suggest that oxytocin, but not cortisol, plays a role in low-level perceptual and self-reflective aspects of social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edina Török
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Oguz Kelemen
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szabolcs Kéri
- Department of Cognitive Science, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, 1111 Budapest, Hungary
- National Institute of Mental Health, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, 1145 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Physiology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
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25
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Forkey HC, Schulte E, Thorndyke L. Caring for Caregivers Experiencing Secondary Trauma: A Call to Action. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2023; 62:525-528. [PMID: 36457156 DOI: 10.1177/00099228221140677] [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] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Secondary traumatic stress (STS) is the emotional duress caused by indirect exposure to distressing events experienced by others. Health care providers are particularly susceptible to secondary stress due to regular exposure to difficult and painful clinical situations that evoke intrinsic empathy necessary to provide effective care. Understanding STS as a normal stress response not only helps to make sense of the symptoms but also suggests a way forward. Opportunities for those in health care to address STS can be found among our colleagues and in our own settings and may provide a meaningful source of support if accessed effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather C Forkey
- UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Elaine Schulte
- The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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26
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Prati G, Mancini AD. Happiness before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: A population-based longitudinal study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION : IJDRR 2023; 91:103711. [PMID: 37123218 PMCID: PMC10122958 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The aims of the present study were to investigate (1) whether the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures to control its spread were associated with changes in happiness before and after the pandemic and (2) whether household size, living with a partner/spouse, living with at least one son/daughter, financial support, income loss, and job loss following the pandemic were associated with happiness after controlling for previous levels of happiness. We use data from the Italian Survey on Household Income and Wealth (SHIW). Specifically, we used longitudinal data from 2283 respondents who participated in the SHIW 2016 and SHIW 2020. Results revealed a small but significant increase in happiness from 2016 to 2021. In addition, living with a partner/spouse predicted higher happiness with a medium effect size, and total income loss predicted lower happiness with a small to medium effect size. Household size, living with at least one son/daughter, financial support, partial income loss, and job loss following the pandemic were unrelated to happiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Prati
- Department of Psychology, University of Bologna (Italy), Piazza Aldo Moro, 90, 47521, Cesena, FC, Italy
| | - Anthony D Mancini
- Department of Psychology, Pace University, Marks Hall, Rm 33, 861 Bedford Road, Pleasantville, NY, 10570, USA
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27
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Huang Z, Xiao X, Liu C, Cai Q, Liu C, Tan Q, Zhan Y. Acute Social Stress Influences Moral Decision-Making Under Different Social Distances in Young Healthy Men. Exp Psychol 2023; 70:171-179. [PMID: 37589233 DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000586] [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: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Acute social stress has been shown to influence social decision-making. This study aimed to examine how social distance modulates the influence of acute social stress on young male moral decision-making. Sixty healthy male college students were randomly divided to be exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a placebo version of the TSST (P-TSST) before they performed moral decision-making tasks. The results showed that participants under acute social stress showed obvious increases in subjective stress perception, negative affect, salivary cortisol, and alpha-amylase and made more altruistic choices for others compared to the control group. However, social distance regulates the promotion of this acute social stress, with the promotion effect being stronger in socially distant others. Furthermore, the interpersonal order difference of different social distances in altruistic decisions is smaller in low-conflict dilemmas than in high-conflict dilemmas. In addition, an increase in salivary cortisol was positively correlated with altruistic choices toward both acquaintances and strangers, whereas an increase in salivary alpha-amylase was only positively correlated with altruistic choices toward friends. The results suggest that social distance modulates the promotion of acute social stress on moral decision-making, which might stem from the divergent effects of cortisol and alpha-amylase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Huang
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Hunan First Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, PR China
| | - Changlin Liu
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
| | - Qinhong Cai
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
| | - Chan Liu
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
| | - Qianbao Tan
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
| | - Youlong Zhan
- Department of Psychology, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, PR China
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28
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Ding C, Fung HG, Zhang Y. Yin-yang framework of decision-making: Development and assessment of Yin-yang decision-making styles questionnaire. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2023.112090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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29
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Lindberg B, Rerucha C, Givens M. Occupational and Environmental Challenges for Women. Curr Sports Med Rep 2023; 22:120-125. [PMID: 37036460 DOI: 10.1249/jsr.0000000000001055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The prevalence of women in the global workforce is increasing. Women increasingly participate in nontraditional employment settings in previously male-dominated industries and manually intensive professions, such as military service, emergency response, health care, aviation, space, agriculture, and technical trades. Limited occupational and environmental hazard data specific to women exist for these work environments. Physiologic and biomechanical differences between sexes create unique workplace challenges specific to women. This article will summarize challenges confronting women working in nontraditional employment and identify strategies to mitigate risk within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Lindberg
- National Capital Consortium Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Fort Belvoir, VA
| | - Caitlyn Rerucha
- National Capital Consortium Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, Fort Belvoir, VA
| | - Melissa Givens
- Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
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30
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Pötzl L, Wolf OT, Merz CJ. Rapid and delayed stress effects on recognition of female and male faces. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 150:106043. [PMID: 36731350 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106043] [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: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Stress and the stress hormone cortisol typically impair memory recognition, especially for emotional words, scenes or objects. However, prior research almost exclusively focused on rapid non-genomic cortisol effects. Additionally, findings for stress hormone effects on face stimuli are contradictory and rare, although very relevant for everyday life. In this preregistered study, we investigated the rapid and delayed stress effects on memory recognition for faces. In a two-day design, 52 healthy men first encoded pictures of male and female faces with distinct emotional expressions. One day later, participants were exposed to a psychophysiological stress (Socially Evaluated Cold-Pressor Test) or a (warm water) control procedure. Memory for the faces was tested at two time points: 25 min after stress onset at the peak of the cortisol increase for stressed participants (rapid non-genomic cortisol effects, which presumably operate within minutes through membrane bound receptors), as well as 90 min after stress onset when cortisol concentrations were back to baseline (delayed genomic cortisol effects, which describe an altered gene transcription resulting in modified neural functions, acting supposedly via intracellular receptors). Rapid stress effects led to enhanced memory recognition for female faces selectively, whereas delayed stress effects led to enhanced memory recognition across male and female faces. Altogether, we observed a beneficial rather than detrimental impact of stress on face recognition with a differential impact on recognition of male and female faces over time. It remains to be determined if this beneficial stress effect relies on the interaction of participants' sex and the sex of facial stimuli. Future research should also more closely look at the underlying mechanisms of how stress exactly influences face recognition, which is for example critically relevant for testimonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Pötzl
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Oliver T Wolf
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
| | - Christian J Merz
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.
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31
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Goulet CL, Wells CK, Szymanski LA, Thieman TJ. Gender-specific social support and resilience in nontraditional female college students. JOURNAL OF AMERICAN COLLEGE HEALTH : J OF ACH 2023; 71:758-764. [PMID: 34398698 DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2021.1908300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Female college students report higher rates of stress than their male peers. Ineffective stress management contributes to a variety of concerning health outcomes. A number of factors have been shown to promote resilience to stress, such as experiencing positive social support. Few studies have examined if gender-specific social support impacts resilience. The present study investigates if gender-specific social support uniquely contributes to resilience among nontraditional college female students. Participants (N = 57) aged 21 to 54 completed an online survey assessing resilience and perceived social support from females and males. Participants with higher levels of perceived female social support reported higher levels of resilience than those with lower levels of perceived female social support. Perceived male social support was not significantly related to resilience when examined in conjunction with perceived female social support. These findings suggest that perceived female social support may uniquely contribute to resilience in nontraditional female students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol L Goulet
- Department of Psychology, Mayo Clinic Health Systems, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Courtney K Wells
- Department of Social Work, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Lynda A Szymanski
- Psychology Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Thomas J Thieman
- Psychology Department, St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
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32
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Borges JV, Pires VN, de Freitas BS, Rübensam G, Vieira VC, de Souza Dos Santos C, Schröder N, Bromberg E. Behavior, BDNF and epigenetic mechanisms in response to social isolation and social support in middle aged rats exposed to chronic stress. Behav Brain Res 2023; 441:114303. [PMID: 36657665 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Social deprivation can be stressful for group-living mammals. On the other hand, an amazing response of these animals to stress is seeking social contact to give and receive joint protection in threatening situations. We explored the effects of social isolation and social support on epigenetic and behavioral responses to chronic stress. More specifically, we investigated the behavioral responses, corticosterone levels, BDNF gene expression, and markers of hippocampal epigenetic alterations (levels of H3K9 acetylation and methylation, H3K27 methylation, HDAC5, DNMT1, and DNMT3a gene expressions) in middle-aged adult rats maintained in different housing conditions (isolation or accompanied housing) and exposed to the chronic unpredictable stress protocol (CUS). Isolation was associated with decreased basal levels of corticosterone, impaired long-term memory, and decreased expression of the BDNF gene, besides altering the balance of H3K9 from acetylation to methylation and increasing the DNMT1 gene expression. The CUS protocol decreased H3K9 acetylation, besides increasing H3K27 methylation and DNMT1 gene expression, but had no significant effects on memory and BDNF gene expression. Interestingly, the effects of CUS on corticosterone and HDAC5 gene expression were seen only in isolated animals, whereas the effects of CUS on DNMT1 gene expression were more pronounced in isolated than accompanied animals. In conclusion, social isolation in middle age showed broader effects than chronic unpredictable stress on behavioral and epigenetic alterations potentially associated with decreased BDNF expression. Moreover, social support prevented the adverse effects of CUS on HPA axis functioning, HDAC5, and DNMT1 gene expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliano Viana Borges
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Vivian Naziaseno Pires
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil; Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6690, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Betânia Souza de Freitas
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Rübensam
- Center of Toxicology and Pharmacology Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Vitória Corrêa Vieira
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Cristophod de Souza Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Nadja Schröder
- National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil; Department of Physiology, Institute for Basic Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Elke Bromberg
- Laboratory of Biology and Development of the Nervous System, School of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6681, 90619-900 Porto Alegre, Brazil; Institute of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Ipiranga Av. 6690, 90610-000 Porto Alegre, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology for Translational Medicine (INCT-TM), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Brasília, Brazil.
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33
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Bales KL, Hang S, Paulus JP, Jahanfard E, Manca C, Jost G, Boyer C, Bern R, Yerumyan D, Rogers S, Mederos SL. Individual differences in social homeostasis. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1068609. [PMID: 36969803 PMCID: PMC10036751 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1068609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The concept of “social homeostasis”, introduced by Matthews and Tye in 2019, has provided a framework with which to consider our changing individual needs for social interaction, and the neurobiology underlying this system. This model was conceived as including detector systems, a control center with a setpoint, and effectors which allow us to seek out or avoid additional social contact. In this article, we review and theorize about the many different factors that might contribute to the setpoint of a person or animal, including individual, social, cultural, and other environmental factors. We conclude with a consideration of the empirical challenges of this exciting new model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, >Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Karen L. Bales
| | - Sally Hang
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - John P. Paulus
- Graduate Group in Neuroscience, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Elaina Jahanfard
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Claudia Manca
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Geneva Jost
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Chase Boyer
- Graduate Group in Human Development, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Rose Bern
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Daniella Yerumyan
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sophia Rogers
- Graduate Group in Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sabrina L. Mederos
- Graduate Group in Animal Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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34
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Speer SPH, Martinovici A, Smidts A, Boksem MAS. The acute effects of stress on dishonesty are moderated by individual differences in moral default. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3984. [PMID: 36894617 PMCID: PMC9998439 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31056-2] [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] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In daily life we regularly must decide whether to act dishonestly for personal gain or to be honest and maintain a positive image of ourselves. While evidence suggests that acute stress influences moral decisions, it is unclear whether stress increases or decreases immoral behavior. Here, we hypothesize that stress, through its effects on cognitive control, has different effects on moral decision making for different individuals, depending on their moral default. We test this hypothesis by combining a task which allows for inconspicuously measuring spontaneous cheating with a well-established stress induction task. Our findings confirm our hypothesis, revealing that effects of stress on dishonesty are not uniform, but instead depend on the individual: for those who are relatively dishonest, stress increases dishonesty, whereas for participants who are relatively honest stress makes them more honest. These findings go a long way in resolving the conflicting findings in the literature on the effects of stress on moral decisions, suggesting that stress affects dishonesty differently for different individuals, depending on their moral default.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian P H Speer
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Ana Martinovici
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ale Smidts
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten A S Boksem
- Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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35
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Piarulli FM, Margari A, Margari F, Matera E, Croce F, Furente F, Gabellone A, Petruzzelli MG. Do Cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone Influence Motivational Factors for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Female Adolescents? J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051924. [PMID: 36902709 PMCID: PMC10003553 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant public health issue that particularly affects female adolescents usually emerging during puberty, with a subsequent reduction and even remission in the phenomenon later in life. The dysregulation of the hormonal stress response, particularly cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), whose levels increase markedly during pubertal adrenarche, has been associated with the development and maintenance of a wide range of emotional disorders. Our study aims to investigate whether different cortisol-DHEA-S response patterns could be associated with the main motivational moderators to engage NSSI as well as with urgency and motivation to stop NSSI in a sample of female adolescents. We found significant correlations between stress hormones and several factors that support and sustain NSSI, specifically: cortisol levels and distressing/upsetting urge (r = 0.39 and a p = 8.94 × 10-3) and sensation seeking (r = -0.32 and a p = 0.04), as well as cortisol/DHEA-s ratio and external emotion regulation (r = 0.40 and a p = 0.01) and desire to stop NSSI (r = 0.40 and a p = 0.01). Cortisol and DHEA-S may play a role in NSSI through the regulation of stress responses and affective states. Such results could have implications for the development of new and improved treatment and prevention plans for NSSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Maria Piarulli
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
| | - Anna Margari
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
| | - Francesco Margari
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
| | - Emilia Matera
- Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Ionian Area (DiMePRe-J), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Federica Croce
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
| | - Flora Furente
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gabellone
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neurosciences (DiBraiN), University “A. Moro”, 7016 Bari, Italy
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Fox SA, Scelza B, Silk J, Kramer KL. New perspectives on the evolution of women's cooperation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210424. [PMID: 36440567 PMCID: PMC9703265 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0424] [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] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A holistic, evolutionary framework about human cooperation must incorporate information about women's cooperative behaviour. Yet, most empirical research on human cooperation has centered on men's behaviour or been derived from experimental studies conducted in western, industrialized populations. These bodies of data are unlikely to accurately represent human behavioural diversity. To address this gap and provide a more balanced view of human cooperation, this issue presents substantial new data and multi-disciplinary perspectives to document the complexity of women's cooperative behaviour. Research in this issue 1) challenges narratives about universal gender differences in cooperation, 2) reconsiders patrilocality and access to kin as constraints on women's cooperation, 3) reviews evidence for a connection between social support and women's health and 4) examines the phylogenetic roots of female cooperation. Here, we discuss the steps taken in this issue toward a more complete and evidence-based understanding of the role that cooperation plays in women's and girls' lives and in building human sociality. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A. Fox
- Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Brooke Scelza
- Department of Anthropology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Joan Silk
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
| | - Karen L. Kramer
- Department of Anthropology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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Bedrov A, Gable SL. Thriving together: the benefits of women's social ties for physical, psychological and relationship health. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20210441. [PMID: 36440568 PMCID: PMC9703221 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0441] [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] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between social support and well-being is well established in social psychology, with evidence suggesting that these benefits are especially prominent among women. When faced with an environmental stressor, women are more likely to adopt a tend-and-befriend strategy rather than fight-or-flight. Furthermore, female friendships tend to be higher in self-disclosure and more frequently relied on for social support, which is associated with physical and psychological benefits. Women are also more effective at providing social support, further augmenting those benefits. We begin with an overview of the characteristics of women's social ties and how they can be especially useful in times of stress. We then transition to the benefits of female social networks even in the absence of negative events and incorporate research from health and social psychology to consider the positive implications of having strong social bonds and the negative implications of lacking such bonds. Additionally, we consider cross-cultural differences in tendencies to seek out social support and its subsequent benefits, as well as the need for more research with culturally diverse samples. It remains unclear the extent to which patterns of social support benefits for women vary cross-culturally. This article is part of the theme issue 'Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Bedrov
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Shelly L. Gable
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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Kieson E, Goma AA, Radi M. Tend and Befriend in Horses: Partner Preferences, Lateralization, and Contextualization of Allogrooming in Two Socially Stable Herds of Quarter Horse Mares. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13020225. [PMID: 36670764 PMCID: PMC9854972 DOI: 10.3390/ani13020225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies show that horses express favoritism through shared proximity and time and demonstrate unique affiliative behaviors such as allogrooming (mutual scratching) with favorite conspecifics. Allogrooming also occurs more frequently during stress and has been observed to occur more frequently in domestic herds than feral. The role of partner preference, lateralization, and duration of allogrooming as measures of social bonding has remained unclear. The present study looked at two socially stable herds of mares (n = 85, n = 115) to determine the frequency, duration, visual field of view and partner preference during allogrooming in both pasture settings (low stress) and confined settings (higher stress). One hundred and fifty-three videos for both herds were coded for allogrooming behaviors with 6.86 h recorded in confined conditions and 31.9 h in pasture settings. Six allogrooming sessions were observed in the pasture setting with an average duration of 163.11 s. In confined settings, a total of 118 allogrooming sessions were observed with an average duration of 40.98 s. Significant (p < 0.01) differences were found between settings for duration (s), number of allogrooming pairs, and frequency of allogrooming (per min) for each herd. All observed allogrooming sessions involved pairs of favored conspecifics (one partner per horse). The current study suggests that horses may have friendships that can be observed through the demonstration of specific affiliative behaviors during times of stress with more frequent, but shorter affiliative interactions with preferred partners during times of stress. This context suggests that horses adhere to the “tend and befriend” principles of friendship in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Kieson
- Department of Research, Equine International, Boston, MA 02120, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Amira A. Goma
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21944, Egypt
| | - Medhat Radi
- Department of Pest Physiology Research, Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12311, Egypt
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Rajchert J, Konopka K, Oręziak H, Dziechciarska W. Direct and displaced aggression after exclusion: role of gender differences. THE JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 163:126-143. [PMID: 35234098 DOI: 10.1080/00224545.2022.2042173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The present studies consider the influence of exclusion on aggressive behavior depending on the target of the aggression and the gender of the aggressor. Previous studies have shown that after exclusion, aggressive behavior occurs toward the excluder as well as toward innocent bystanders. However, there is also evidence that men have a greater tendency toward direct aggression and women have a greater tendency toward displaced aggression. In Studies 1 (N = 89) and 2 (N = 120), participants were ostracized, in Studies 3 (N = 88) and 4 (N = 133), participants were rejected. Then, aggressive behavior toward the excluder or bystander was measured. The results confirmed the gender differences hypothesis, but only in the case of ostracism. After ostracism, more retaliatory aggression was observed in men, and more displaced aggression was noted in women. Rejection resulted in generalized aggressive behavior directed toward the excluder and the bystander in men and women. The results are discussed in light of Sexual Selection Theory.
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Utilizing Soccer for Delivery of HIV and Substance Use Prevention for Young South African Men: 6-Month Outcomes of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial. AIDS Behav 2023; 27:842-854. [PMID: 36380117 PMCID: PMC9944297 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03819-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Young men in South Africa face the intersecting epidemics of HIV, substance use and endemic poverty. We tested the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention using soccer training to reduce the cluster of risks associated with HIV and substance use. This cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted with men aged 18-29 years old in 27 neighborhoods in the townships of Cape Town, South Africa. Neighborhoods were randomized to receive for 6 months either: (1) Soccer League (SL; n = 18 neighborhoods, n = 778 men) who attended soccer three times weekly (72 sessions; 94% uptake, 45.5% weekly attendance rate), combined with an HIV/substance use, cognitive-behavioral intervention; or (2) a Control Condition (CC; n = 9; 415 men) who received educational materials and referrals at 3 month intervals. The primary outcome was the number of significant changes in a cluster of outcomes including HIV-related risks, substance abuse, employment/income, mental health, violence, and community engagement. There was only one significant difference on the rapid diagnostic tests for mandrax at 6 months, an insufficient number of changes to indicate a successful intervention. A group-based behavioral intervention was ineffective in addressing multiple risk behaviors among at-risk young men, similar to the findings of several recent soccer-related interventions. Early adulthood may be too late to alter well-established patterns of risk behaviors.Clinical Trial Registration This trial was prospectively registered on 24 November 2014 with ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02358226.
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The association between acute stress & empathy: A systematic literature review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 144:105003. [PMID: 36535374 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Empathy is a fundamental component of our social-emotional experience. Over the last decade, there has been increased interest in understanding the effects of acute stress on empathy. We provide a first comprehensive-and systematic-overview identifying emerging patterns and gaps in this literature. Regarding affective empathy, there is abundant evidence for stress contagion-the 'spillover' of stress from a stressed target to an unstressed perceiver. We highlight contextual factors that can facilitate and/or undermine these effects. Fewer studies have investigated the effects of acute stress on affective empathy, revealing a nuanced picture, some evidence suggests acute stress can block contagion of other's emotions; but again contextual differences need to be considered. Regarding cognitive empathy, most studies find no conclusive effects for simplistic measures of emotion recognition; however, studies using more complex empathy tasks find that acute stress might affect cognitive empathy differentially for men and women. This review provides an important first step towards understanding how acute stress can impact social-togetherness, and aims to aid future research by highlighting (in)congruencies and outstanding questions.
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O'Neill OA, Barsade SG, Sguera F. The psychological and financial impacts of an emotional culture of anxiety and its antidote, an emotional culture of companionate love. Soc Sci Med 2023; 317:115570. [PMID: 36528946 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Anxiety is an increasingly common problem in society, including at work, yet the effects of an emotional culture of anxiety remain unexplored. We offer a new lens on anxiety in the workplace, examining its collective enactment in the form of an emotional culture of anxiety. OBJECTIVE This study examines the implications of an emotional culture of anxiety for psychological and financial outcomes within a poorly performing healthcare organization. We also examine whether an emotional culture of companionate love, which helps people "calm and connect", can counteract the negative effects of an emotional culture of anxiety. METHODS Drawing on survey data of 822 employees from 85 departments in a large US medical center and a time-lagged archival measure of financial performance across those departments, we used ordinary least squares regression and random coefficient regression modeling to examine the main effects of these two emotional cultures and the buffering effect of an emotional culture of companionate love on an emotional culture of anxiety for department costs, department psychological safety, and individual employee burnout and satisfaction. RESULTS We find significant direct relationships between an emotional culture of anxiety and an emotional culture of companionate love on employee burnout and satisfaction in the predicted directions. We also find a significant interaction between the two emotional cultures, with a culture of companionate love attenuating the relationship of a culture of anxiety on job satisfaction, burnout, and financial performance in the form of time-lagged department costs. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that a culture of companionate love can be a protective force against the negative outcomes of an emotional culture of anxiety. Examining these two emotional cultures concurrently offers a better understanding of how to address the pernicious effects of anxiety in organizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Amanda O'Neill
- George Mason University, School of Business MS 1E6, 9900 Main Street Suite 200,Fairfax, VA ,22030, USA.
| | - Sigal G Barsade
- The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2000 Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, USA.
| | - Francesco Sguera
- Católica-Lisbon School of Business and Economics, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal.
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Fedurek P, Lacroix L, Aktipis A, Cronk L, Makambi J, Mabulla I, Lehmann J, Berbesque JC. Relationship between proximity and physiological stress levels in hunter-gatherers: The Hadza. Horm Behav 2023; 147:105294. [PMID: 36521419 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent years there has been a great deal of documentation on how social relationships are related to various aspects of human wellbeing. However, until recently most studies investigating the effects of social relationships on wellbeing have applied social network measures to reported social contacts. Recent advances in the application of bio-loggers in biological studies have now made it possible to quantify social relationships based on in-person, rather than self-reported, social interactions. We used GPS-derived in-camp and out-of-camp proximity data to analyse how in-person proximity is related to Hair Cortisol Concentration (HCC) among Hadza hunter-gatherers. Time spent in close proximity to other camp members was associated with higher HCC, especially in women. In contrast, individuals who spent more time in close out-of-camp proximity to their best friend experienced lower HCC. Our study suggests that physiological costs related to group living might be mitigated by in-person interactions with close friends. We also find that the location (i.e., in-camp vs out-of-camp) of proximity to others and self-perceived friends is associated with HCC among the Hadza.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Fedurek
- Anthropology Programme, University of Roehampton, London, UK; Department of Anthropology, Ludwik Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Laurent Lacroix
- Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | - Athena Aktipis
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Lee Cronk
- Department of Anthropology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Jerryson Makambi
- Mount Meru Tour Guide and International Language School, Arusha, Tanzania
| | | | - Julia Lehmann
- Anthropology Programme, University of Roehampton, London, UK
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Pinto AM, Geenen R, Wager TD, Lumley MA, Häuser W, Kosek E, Ablin JN, Amris K, Branco J, Buskila D, Castelhano J, Castelo-Branco M, Crofford LJ, Fitzcharles MA, López-Solà M, Luís M, Marques TR, Mease PJ, Palavra F, Rhudy JL, Uddin LQ, Castilho P, Jacobs JWG, da Silva JAP. Emotion regulation and the salience network: a hypothetical integrative model of fibromyalgia. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:44-60. [PMID: 36471023 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-022-00873-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances and other symptoms, and has a substantial socioeconomic impact. Current biomedical and psychosocial treatments are unsatisfactory for many patients, and treatment progress has been hindered by the lack of a clear understanding of the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia. We present here a model of fibromyalgia that integrates current psychosocial and neurophysiological observations. We propose that an imbalance in emotion regulation, reflected by an overactive 'threat' system and underactive 'soothing' system, might keep the 'salience network' (also known as the midcingulo-insular network) in continuous alert mode, and this hyperactivation, in conjunction with other mechanisms, contributes to fibromyalgia. This proposed integrative model, which we term the Fibromyalgia: Imbalance of Threat and Soothing Systems (FITSS) model, should be viewed as a working hypothesis with limited supporting evidence available. We hope, however, that this model will shed new light on existing psychosocial and biological observations, and inspire future research to address the many gaps in our knowledge about fibromyalgia, ultimately stimulating the development of novel therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Pinto
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, University Clinic of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Psychological Medicine Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rinie Geenen
- Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Altrecht Psychosomatic Medicine Eikenboom, Zeist, The Netherlands
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Mark A Lumley
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Winfried Häuser
- Department Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Eva Kosek
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacob N Ablin
- Internal Medicine H, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel
| | - Kirstine Amris
- The Parker Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jaime Branco
- Rheumatology Department, Egas Moniz Hospital - Lisboa Ocidental Hospital Centre (CHLO-EPE), Lisbon, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), Chronic Diseases Research Centre (CEDOC), NOVA Medical School, NOVA University Lisbon (NMS/UNL), Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dan Buskila
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev Beer-Sheba, Beersheba, Israel
| | - João Castelhano
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), ICNAS, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Castelo-Branco
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research (CIBIT), ICNAS, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Leslie J Crofford
- Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mary-Ann Fitzcharles
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marina López-Solà
- Serra Hunter Programme, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariana Luís
- Rheumatology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tiago Reis Marques
- Psychiatric Imaging Group, MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences (LMS), Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philip J Mease
- Swedish Medical Center/Providence St. Joseph Health, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Filipe Palavra
- Centre for Child Development, Neuropediatric Unit, Paediatric Hospital, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (i.CBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jamie L Rhudy
- Department of Psychology, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, USA
| | - Lucina Q Uddin
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
| | - Paula Castilho
- University of Coimbra, Center for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive and Behavioral Intervention (CINEICC), Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Johannes W G Jacobs
- Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - José A P da Silva
- University of Coimbra, University Clinic of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Rheumatology Department, Coimbra Hospital and University Centre, Coimbra, Portugal.
- University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (i.CBR), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Nitschke JP, Forbes PA, Lamm C. Does stress make us more—or less—prosocial? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of acute stress on prosocial behaviours using economic games. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 142:104905. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Sunahara CS, Wilson SJ, Rosenfield D, Alvi T, Szeto A, Mendez AJ, Tabak BA. Oxytocin reactivity to a lab-based stressor predicts support seeking after stress in daily life: Implications for the Tend-and-Befriend theory. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 145:105897. [PMID: 36095915 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105897] [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] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Social relationships play an important role in mental and physical health, particularly during times of stress. However, little is known about the biological mechanisms underlying the tendency to seek support following stress. The Tend-and-Befriend theory suggests that oxytocin (OT) may enhance the desire for social contact in response to stress. Yet, no studies in humans have provided empirical support for the connection between stress-induced changes in endogenous OT and increased support seeking after stress. In the present study, 94 participants performed a standardized laboratory stressor and then completed two weeks of daily assessments of support seeking after stress. In line with preregistered hypotheses, stress-induced plasma OT reactivity to the laboratory stressor was associated with more frequent support seeking behaviors following stress in daily life (i.e., outside of the laboratory). Additional results suggested that attachment anxiety (but not avoidance) strengthened this association. Our findings implicate the OT system in affiliative behaviors following stress, providing empirical support for the Tend-and-Befriend theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecile S Sunahara
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Stephanie J Wilson
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - David Rosenfield
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Talha Alvi
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Angela Szeto
- Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Armando J Mendez
- Diabetes Research Institute, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Benjamin A Tabak
- Department of Psychology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States.
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Arbel R, Szpiro SF, Sagi J, Khuri M, Berkovits L, Cohen N. Reappraising negative emotions reduces distress during the COVID-19 outbreak. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022:1-10. [PMID: 36124046 PMCID: PMC9476464 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03642-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In two studies, we examined the utility of intrinsic (i.e., self) versus extrinsic (i.e., other) reappraisal training for distress reduction during two consecutive COVID-19 lockdowns in Israel. In both Study 1 (n = 104) and Study 2 (n = 181), participants practiced the use of reappraisal for eight sessions across three weeks. Participants were trained to reappraise either a personal event (self-reappraisal group) or an incident presumably written by another participant (other-reappraisal group). Study 2 also included an untrained control group. Outcome measures were daily negative mood and psychological distress immediately at post-training and at a two-month follow-up. The results demonstrate a benefit for training compared to no training in lowering immediate post-training distress and daily negative emotions. However, this advantage disappeared at the two-month follow-up. In both studies, intrinsic reappraisal was associated with lower post-training distress than extrinsic reappraisal. Findings suggest reappraising negative experiences may lower distress at times of major contextual stress. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12144-022-03642-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reout Arbel
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, The Faculty of Education, University of Haifa, 199 Aba Hushi Ave, 3498838 Haifa, Israel
| | - Sarit F.A. Szpiro
- Department of Special Education, Haifa, Israel
- The Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | | | | | - Lior Berkovits
- Department of Counseling and Human Development, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Cohen
- Department of Special Education, Haifa, Israel
- The Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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Khan I, Cañamero L. The Long-Term Efficacy of "Social Buffering" in Artificial Social Agents: Contextual Affective Perception Matters. Front Robot AI 2022; 9:699573. [PMID: 36185976 PMCID: PMC9520257 DOI: 10.3389/frobt.2022.699573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In dynamic (social) environments, an affective state of "stress" can be adaptive and promote agent wellbeing, but maladaptive if not appropriately regulated. The presence of (and interactions with) affect-based social support has been hypothesised to provide mechanisms to regulate stress (the "social buffering" hypothesis), though the precise, underlying mechanisms are still unclear. However, the hormone oxytocin has been implicated in mediating these effects in at least two ways: by improving social appraisals and reducing the short-term release of stress hormones (i.e., cortisol), and adapting an agent's long-term stress tolerance. These effects likely facilitate an agent's long-term adaptive ability by grounding their physiological and behavioural adaptation in the (affective) social environment, though these effects also appear to be context-dependent. In this paper, we investigate whether two of the hypothesised hormonal mechanisms that underpin the "social buffering" phenomenon affect the long-term wellbeing of (artificial) social agents who share affective social bonds, across numerous social and physical environmental contexts. Building on previous findings, we hypothesise that "social buffering" effects can improve the long-term wellbeing of agents who share affective social bonds in dynamic environments, through regular prosocial interactions with social bond partners. We model some of the effects associated with oxytocin and cortisol that underpin these hypothesised mechanisms in our biologically-inspired, socially-adaptive agent model, and conduct our investigation in a small society of artificial agents whose goal is to survive in challenging environments. Our results find that, while stress can be adaptive and regulated through affective social support, long-term behavioural and physiological adaptation is determined by the contextual perception of affective social bonds, which is influenced by early-stage interactions between affective social bond partners as well as the degree of the physical and social challenges. We also show how these low-level effects associated with oxytocin and cortisol can be used as "biomarkers" of social support and environmental stress. For socially-situated artificial agents, we suggest that these "social buffering" mechanisms can adapt the (adaptive) stress mechanisms, but that the long-term efficacy of this adaptation is related to the temporal dynamics of social interactions and the contextual perception of the affective social and physical environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imran Khan
- Embodied Emotion, Cognition, and (Inter-)Action Lab, School of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Lola Cañamero
- Embodied Emotion, Cognition, and (Inter-)Action Lab, School of Physics, Engineering, and Computer Science, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, United Kingdom
- ETIS Lab, CY Cergy Paris University—ENSEA—CNRS UMR8051, Cergy, France
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Turgeman-Lupo K, Hilo-Merkovich R, Biron M. A Social Information Processing Perspective on the Influence of Supervisors and Followers on Women’s and Men's Adaptability to Change. JOURNAL OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/14697017.2022.2117231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Keren Turgeman-Lupo
- Society and Behavior Program, Ramat Gan Academic College, Israel and Center for the Study of Organizations and Human Resource Management, University of Haifa, Israel
| | - Rinat Hilo-Merkovich
- Federmann School of Government and Public Policy, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
| | - Michal Biron
- School of Business Administration, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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50
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Bales KL, Rogers FD. Interactions between the
κ
opioid system, corticotropin-releasing hormone and oxytocin in partner loss. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210061. [PMID: 35858099 PMCID: PMC9272146 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective adult social attachments, or ‘pair bonds’, represent central relationships for individuals in a number of social species, including humans. Loss of a pair mate has emotional consequences that may or may not diminish over time, and that often translate into impaired psychological and physical health. In this paper, we review the literature on the neuroendocrine mechanisms for the emotional consequences of partner loss, with a special focus on hypothesized interactions between oxytocin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and the κ opioid system. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Interplays between oxytocin and other neuromodulators in shaping complex social behaviours’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Forrest D. Rogers
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, NJ 08540, USA
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