Cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress and abuse history: the role of occurrence, frequency, and type of abuse
Persistent URL
Author(s)
Conklin, Sarah M.
Ginty, Annie T.
Masters, Nicole A.
Nelson, Eliza B.
Kaye, Karen T.
Date Issued
2017
Abstract
Background and objectives: Extreme cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress have been associated with traumatic life experiences. Previous studies have focused on the occurrence or frequency of abuse rather than type of abuse. We examined how occurrence, frequency, and the type of abuse history are related to cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) to acute psychological stress. Design: The study consisted of between group and continuous analyses to examine the association between occurrence, type, and frequency of abuse with cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress. Methods: Data from 64 participants were collected. Heart rate, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were measured at baseline and during a standard mental arithmetic stress task. Results: Individuals who experienced abuse showed diminished CVR to acute psychological stress; this was driven specifically by the history of sexual abuse. Frequency of abuse did not relate to stress reactions. Conclusions: These findings accord with previous work suggesting a relationship
between traumatic life experience and hypoarousal in physiological reactivity and extend previous findings by suggesting the relationship may be driven by sexual abuse.
Journal
ANXIETY, STRESS, & COPING
Department
Neuroscience
Citation
Ginty, A.T., Masters, N.A., Nelson, E.B., Kaye, K.T., and Conklin, S.M. (2017). Cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress and abuse history: the role of occurrence, frequency, and type of abuse. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 30(2): 155-162. doi:10.1080/10615806.2016.1210791
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Version of Article
Published article
DOI
10.1080/10615806.2016.1210791
ISSN
1061-5806
1477-2205
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