Physiological stress responses in defensive individuals: Age and sex matter

Abstract

The association between defensiveness and physiological responses to stress were evaluated in 81 healthy working men and 118 women, aged 20 to 64 years (M=41; SD=11.45). Participants underwent laboratory testing during which they were exposed to interpersonal stressors. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and salivary cortisol were measured. Defensiveness was evaluated using the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In women, higher defensiveness was associated with greater BP and HR reactivity to stress (p<.05). In older men, lower defensiveness was associated with increased systolic BP reactivity to stress (p<.02), delayed HRV recovery (p<.02), and greater salivary cortisol levels (p<.02). In conclusion, greater defensiveness was associated with increased reactivity to stress in women whereas in older men, lower defensiveness was associated with elevated cardiovascular, autonomic, and endocrine responses to stress.

Psychological Profiles in the Prediction of Leukocyte Telomere Length in Healthy Individuals

“…For work published from this study, see [53–60]. The results presented are based on data obtained from the follow-up evaluation (time 2) of the prospective study.…”

Sex-specific interaction effects of age, occupational status, and workplace stress on psychiatric symptoms and allostatic load among healthy Montreal workers

“…Participants also engaged in psychosocial stress paradigms reported elsewhere (Gordon et al, 2012;Levesque et al, 2010). The protocol included nine time-points after which saliva was collected ( Table 2): (1) baseline session (10 min period); (2) blood draw 1; (3-6) immediately after exposure to stressors 1 to 4 (each involving a 5 min relaxation phase and a 2 min preparation phase prior to stressor and a 5 min recovery phase following it); (7) post-stress recovery; (8) blood draw 2; and (9) final recovery phase.…”

“…As reported elsewhere (Gordon et al, 2012;Levesque et al, 2009Levesque et al, , 2010, they were recruited through advertisements in newspapers and community centers within the greater Montreal area. The purpose of the larger study conducted between 2005 and 2007 was to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk and psychophysiological factors.…”

Hypertension: Psychosocial Aspects

“…The ability to predict the development of sustained high levels of blood pressure, established hypertension, and cardiac events may be improved by considering other psychological factors such as various personality traits and coping styles (anger/hostility, defensiveness, emotional suppression, denial, repression, anxiety, lack of control and helplessness, Type A and D personality, depression, pessimism) (Brydon et al, 2010;Einvik et al, 2011;Everson-Rose and Lewis, 2005;Gleiberman, 2007;Lévesque et al, 2010;Rutledge and Linden, 2003;Smith and MacKenzie, 2006). In the social domain, contributing factors are low socioeconomic status, social disintegration, and family disruption (poverty, high crime rates, high divorce rates), everyday hassles, occupational stress (job strain, job dissatisfaction, high job demands, little independence in one's work duties or latitude in the ability to make decisions), low levels of family and social support, social isolation, taxing responsibilities such as providing care to disabled family members, marital conflict, minority social status, ethnicity, and gender (Everson-Rose and Lewis, 2005; Kamarck et al, 2005;Lin et al, 2011).…”