Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular reactivity to stress in mid-aged and older women: Long-term temporal consistency of individual differences

Mary Burleson, Kirsten M. Poehlmann, Louise C. Hawkley, John M. Ernst, Gary G. Berntson, William B. Malarkey, Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, Ronald Glaser, John T. Cacioppo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report long-term temporal consistency of stress-related neuroendocrine and cardiovascular variables in mid-aged and older women who performed mental math and speech stress tasks two times approximately 1 year apart. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, cortisol, cardiac preejection period (PEP), respiratory sinus arrhythmia, heart rate (HR), blood pressure, and respiration rate were measured at baseline, after or during stressors, and 30 min posttask. Although there were exceptions, year-to-year Spearman coefficients showed mostly moderate to high consistency (rs ≈ .5-.8) for baseline, stressor, and posttask values. For reactivity, HR and PEP were most consistent (rs ≈ .65); consistency for other variables was moderate to low (rs ≈ .1-.4). Means of most variables changed from year to year. Results support the use of baseline, stressor, and posttask values in longitudinal studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)358-369
Number of pages12
JournalPsychophysiology
Volume40
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2003

Keywords

  • Cardiovascular reactivity
  • Consistency
  • Neuroendocrine reactivity
  • Reliability
  • Reproducibility
  • Stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Physiology (medical)
  • Physiology

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