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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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Yao S, Hélie S. The effect of ostracism on prospective memory in problem solving. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24895. [PMID: 38318066 PMCID: PMC10840013 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24895] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Successfully generating plans, while seemingly straightforward, can be riddled with external and internal interferences. One important possible source of interference is ostracism, which has been consistently shown to induce negative psychological effects in various executive functions. Therefore, understanding the impact of unforeseen ostracism on planning is vital to a broad spectrum of the population, from university students, whose self-esteem partly derives from social acceptance, to healthcare professionals, whose performance oftentimes relies on peer feedback. An individual's ability to navigate through intended actions is an evaluation of their prospective memory (PM), which is traditionally divided into three consecutive phases: (1) planning, (2) recall, and (3) performance. This study primarily focused on the impacts of ostracism via Cyberball simulation on the first two phases of PM in the Tower of London (TOL), an assessment of executive functioning designed specifically to test planning ability during problem solving. Using Bayesian analysis, the study found substantial evidence of there being no difference in planning success between social exclusion and inclusion conditions. However, an individual's sex had significant effects on their planning success at baseline (i.e., inclusion condition). Surprisingly, there was no difference in performance between male participants and female participants when excluded, suggesting that ostracism may play an equalizing role. In addition, male participants both listed more moves at planning and recalled more moves, which led to no difference between sexes in terms of recall percentage. This study underscores a need to consider various factors such as sex and differing perceptions of ostracism when analyzing and addressing problem solving performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Yao
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, United States
| | - Sébastien Hélie
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, United States
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Stout ME, Keirns BH, Hawkins MAW. Hypocortisolemic reactivity to acute social stress among lonely young women. Soc Neurosci 2023; 18:171-182. [PMID: 37381132 DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2023.2229082] [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: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
We examined biopsychosocial stress of acute social pain in relation to chronic loneliness. Hypotheses: 1) Cyberball exclusion (vs. inclusion) would be associated with lower cortisol reactivity to a speech task, and 2) loneliness would moderate the relationship between social exclusion and cortisol reactivity to a speech task, such that higher loneliness would be linked to lower cortisol. Participants (n = 31, women, aged 18-25, 51.6% non-Hispanic white) were randomized to be excluded or included in a game of Cyberball, then completed a speech task. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline, pre-speech, post-speech, and 15 minutes post-speech. Cortisol reactivity was calculated using area under the curve-increase (AUCi). ANOVA revealed a non-significant, meaningful effect of Cyberball exclusion on cortisol AUCi (p=.103, ηp2=.10), accounting for contraceptive use. Moderation analysis revealed among women with high loneliness, women in the exclusion condition had significantly lower cortisol reactivity than women in the inclusion condition (p=.001). For women with low and medium loneliness, there were no significant differences by Cyberball condition. In sum, lonely young women who are excluded may have hypocortisolemic responses to social stress. Results are consistent with literature suggesting that chronic stress is linked to lower cortisol responses, which is linked to negative physical health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison E Stout
- Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Bryant H Keirns
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
| | - Misty A W Hawkins
- Department of Health & Wellness Design, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
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Virtual and real-life ostracism and its impact on a subsequent acute stressor. Physiol Behav 2020; 228:113205. [PMID: 33058901 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
While ostracism constitutes a social stressor with negative effects on physical and mental health, social inclusion seems to increase resilience. This may be true not only for face-to-face settings, but also for computer-mediated interactions. Hence, this study examined the differences between ostracism and social inclusion in real-life or Virtual Reality (VR) regarding self-reported stress, neuroendocrine and cardiovascular reactivity in a subsequent real-life socio-evaluative task. 84 females were randomly assigned to a 3 (agency: face-to-face/human controlled VR-avatar/computer VR-agent) x 2 (inclusion status: inclusion/exclusion) between-subject design using a Cyberball paradigm. Subsequently, they were exposed to a real-life Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). Results indicate that the experience of ostracism constitutes a threat to fundamental social needs independent of agency. Excluded participants showed cardiovascular reactivity during TSST; also face-to-face and avatar excluded individuals had elevated salivary cortisol levels. Included participants reported more perceived social support during Cyberball and showed a blunted cortisol response to the TSST. These results suggest that face-to-face and avatar-related ostracism provokes responses in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Furthermore, they reveal that social inclusion may act as a stress-protector as it alters HPA- and SNS-related stress responsiveness to subsequent stressors.
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Endocrine and psychological stress response in simulated doctor-patient interactions in medical education. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 105:172-177. [PMID: 30292650 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Training of doctor-patient interactions by means of patient actors is considered a useful didactic tool in medical education. However, though students report it as being highly stressful little systematic research has verified this notion. AIMS To assess the endocrine and psychological stress responses of students in the doctor vs. the observer role in simulated doctor-patient interactions. METHODS Salivary cortisol and anxiety was assessed in N = 86 participants of a mandatory course on doctor-patient interactions on three consecutive days. During two of these days they were in the observer role and gave feedback to another student and on one of these days they were in the doctor role and were being given feedback. Saliva was sampled at 4 points in time per day: prior to interaction (T1); after watching the video of the interaction (T2); after feedback (T3); after observation of another interaction (T4). Assessments on observer days took place at the respective time points and at the same time of the day. 3-way mixed ANOVAs were computed with the factors "day of data sampling" (F1); "day with doctor role" (F2); "measurement time"(F3). RESULTS Significant two-way interactions F1 × F2 and three-way interactions F1 × F2 × F3 were observed both for cortisol and for anxiety (all p < .001). Neither cortisol nor anxiety were related to task severity. Anxiety at T1 correlated with cortisol increase from T1 to T2 (r = .266; p = .013). DISCUSSION Results confirm that playing the doctor role in a simulated doctor-patient interaction represents a significant stressor in medical students. Effect sizes considerably exceed those observed in laboratory stress. This brings about new questions regarding moderating factors, effects of repetitions and relationship to medical performance. The ecological validity of this stressor can also make it a useful tool in basic endocrine research.
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Effects of Social Exclusion on Cardiovascular and Affective Reactivity to a Socially Evaluative Stressor. Int J Behav Med 2019; 25:410-420. [PMID: 29616454 DOI: 10.1007/s12529-018-9720-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Socially disconnected individuals have worse health than those who feel socially connected. The mechanisms through which social disconnection influences physiological and psychological outcomes warrant study. The current study tested whether experimental manipulations of social exclusion, relative to inclusion, influenced subsequent cardiovascular (CV) and affective reactivity to socially evaluative stress. METHODS Young adults (N = 81) were assigned through block randomization to experience either social exclusion or inclusion, using a standardized computer-based task (Cyberball). Immediately after exposure to Cyberball, participants either underwent a socially evaluative stressor or an active control task, based on block randomization. Physiological activity (systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR)) and state anxiety were assessed throughout the experiment. RESULTS Excluded participants evidenced a significant increase in cardiovascular and affective responses to a socially evaluative stressor. Included participants who underwent the stressor evidenced similar increases in anxiety, but systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate did not change significantly in response to the stressor. CONCLUSIONS Results contribute to the understanding of physiological consequences of social exclusion. Further investigation is needed to test whether social inclusion can buffer CV stress reactivity, which would carry implications for how positive social factors may protect against the harmful effects of stress.
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Kroll SL, Williams DP, Thoma M, Staib M, Binz TM, Baumgartner MR, Kirschbaum C, Thayer JF, Quednow BB. Non-medical prescription opioid users exhibit dysfunctional physiological stress responses to social rejection. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 100:264-275. [PMID: 30594739 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) recently increased dramatically, especially in the U.S. Although chronic opioid use is commonly accompanied by deficits in social functioning and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenergic (HPA) stress axis, little is known about the impact of NMPOU on psychosocial stress responses. Therefore, we measured physiological responses of the autonomic nervous system and the HPA axis to social rejection using the Cyberball paradigm. We compared 23 individuals with NMPOU, objectively confirmed by hair and urine analyses, with 29 opioid-naïve, healthy controls. As expected, heart rate variability (HRV), an index of parasympathetic activity, increased significantly during exclusion within controls, while in the NMPOU group only a trend in the same direction was found. However, increased HRV was robustly moderated by opioid craving indicating worse emotion regulation to social exclusion specifically in individuals with high opioid craving. Greater levels of the adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol responses to social rejection were found in the NMPOU group indicating hyperreactivity of the HPA axis to social exclusion. Self-ratings suggest that opioid users were aware of rejection, but less emotionally affected by exclusion. Furthermore, controls showed greater negative mood after the Cyberball confirming the task's validity. Moreover, NMPOU individuals reported a smaller social network size compared to controls. Present findings suggest that chronic NMPOU is associated with dysfunctional physiological responses to psychosocial stressors such as social rejection. In sum, NMPOU was associated with poorer regulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, especially under opioid craving highlighting its potential importance in relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Kroll
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - DeWayne P Williams
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Martina Thoma
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthias Staib
- Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tina M Binz
- Center for Forensic Hair Analysis, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Kurvenstrasse 17, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus R Baumgartner
- Center for Forensic Hair Analysis, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Zurich, Kurvenstrasse 17, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Institute of Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Zellescher Weg 19, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Julian F Thayer
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Boris B Quednow
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacopsychology, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland; Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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