Social relationships and physiological function: the effects of recalling social relationships on cardiovascular reactivity.
BACKGROUND
The mechanisms by which social relationships exert their influence on mental and physical health outcomes deserve greater attention.


OBJECTIVE
Although many studies assess the influence of actual social interactions on cardiovascular reactivity, we hypothesized that cognitive and behavioral processes (e.g., recalling and discussing relationships) may be important factors responsible for the health effects of social relationships.


METHODS
We had men and women recall and speak about specific relationships that differed in their underlying positive and negative substrates.


RESULTS
Results revealed that gender moderated the hypothesized pattern of responses, with women showing consistently greater cardiovascular reactivity to the speaking task, particularly when speaking about negative relationships, compared to men.


CONCLUSIONS
This study is discussed in light of recent research on gender differences in relationship outcomes as well as the potential importance of delineating the cognitive representations and processes that influence reactions to one's social environment.
Bloor
Lindsey E
LE
Department of Psychology and Health Psychology Program, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA. Lindsey.Bloor@m.cc.utah.edu
Uchino
Bert N
BN
Hicks
Angela
A
Smith
Timothy W
TW
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D012737:Sex Factors; D012919:Social Behavior