Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers
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Ohio University / OhioLINK
2010
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273595052 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ohiou12735950522021-08-03T05:46:29Z Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers Rochette, Lynne M. Health Physiological Psychology Social Psychology Social Support Friendship Psychological Stress Health Psychology Relationships Cardiovascular Reactivity Stress-Reactivity Coping Gender Closeness The purpose of this study was to assess the association between gender and closeness of the support provider on cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress. Volunteers were randomly assigned to undergo a laboratory visit with a close friend, acquaintance, or stranger. During the testing session, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and impedance cardiography assessments of heart rate (HR), stroke volume, cardiac output, pre-ejection period, and total peripheral resistance were assessed during a fixed order protocol: baseline, adaptation baseline, math task, intermediate baseline, speech preparation period, speech task, and recovery. The support provider was present from adaptation baseline throughout the remainder of the protocol. During speech preparation stress, support from acquaintances produced the lowest HR reactivity for male individuals and support from strangers produced the lowest HR reactivity for female individuals. Also, individuals receiving support from a female support provider displayed less MAP reactivity than individuals receiving support from a male support provider. No significant effects for support provider type or gender were found during the math or speech stressor. Unexpectedly, assigned support provider type group differences were found for resting cardiovascular function at baseline, even though the support provider was not physically present during the cardiovascular assessments. Resting MAP was higher for the friend condition compared to the stranger condition, but no differences were observed with the acquaintance condition. Also, an interaction of support provider type by participant gender was found for resting HR, which illustrated that HR was lowest among males who were assigned to receive support from an acquaintance, but highest among females who were assigned to receive acquaintance support. Although these differences in resting cardiovascular function may be merely coincidence, it is plausible that asking participants to think about quality elements of their relationship with the support provider mentally activated thoughts of the provider, which influenced resting cardiovascular function. Altogether, the limited support of study hypotheses appear to indicate the type of person providing support is not an important element of the social support interaction when actual support provision is standardized among three types of relationships (close friends, acquaintances, strangers). 2010-07-30 English text Ohio University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273595052 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273595052 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
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NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Health Physiological Psychology Social Psychology Social Support Friendship Psychological Stress Health Psychology Relationships Cardiovascular Reactivity Stress-Reactivity Coping Gender Closeness |
| spellingShingle |
Health Physiological Psychology Social Psychology Social Support Friendship Psychological Stress Health Psychology Relationships Cardiovascular Reactivity Stress-Reactivity Coping Gender Closeness Rochette, Lynne M. Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| author |
Rochette, Lynne M. |
| author_facet |
Rochette, Lynne M. |
| author_sort |
Rochette, Lynne M. |
| title |
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| title_short |
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| title_full |
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| title_fullStr |
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress between Friends, Acquaintances, and Strangers |
| title_sort |
gender differences in cardiovascular reactivity to stress between friends, acquaintances, and strangers |
| publisher |
Ohio University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2010 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1273595052 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT rochettelynnem genderdifferencesincardiovascularreactivitytostressbetweenfriendsacquaintancesandstrangers |
| _version_ |
1719425080103010304 |