Neuroendocrine and cardiovascular reactivity to stress in mid-aged and older women: long-term temporal consistency of individual differences.
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 approximately equal to .5-.8) for baseline, stressor, and posttask values. For reactivity, HR and PEP were most consistent (rs approximately equal to .65); consistency for other variables was moderate to low (rs approximately equal to .1-.4). Means of most variables changed from year to year. Results support the use of baseline, stressor, and posttask values in longitudinal studies.
Burleson
Mary H
MH
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arizona State University West, Phoenix, Arizona 85069, USA. mary.burleson@asu.edu
Poehlmann
Kirsten M
KM
Hawkley
Louise C
LC
Ernst
John M
JM
Berntson
Gary G
GG
Malarkey
William B
WB
Kiecolt-Glaser
Janice K
JK
Glaser
Ronald
R
Cacioppo
John T
JT
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*
D006728:Hormones