title: Trait positive affect buffers the effects of acute stress on skin barrier recovery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examines the role of self-reported trait positive affect (PA) on skin barrier recovery after skin disruption, and whether the role of trait PA in wound healing is consistent with the direct effects model or the stress-buffering model of PA and health.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy participants (mean age 22.7 +/- 3.9 years) completed a self-report measure of trait positive and negative affect, underwent a "tape-stripping" procedure that disrupts normal skin barrier function, and were randomly assigned to a Stress (Trier Social Stress Test) or No Stress (reading task) condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  Skin barrier recovery was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss up to 2 hr after skin disruption.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multilevel modeling indicated that greater trait PA was related to faster skin barrier recovery (p < .05). The effects of PA on skin barrier recovery were independent of levels of trait NA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that trait PA may influence skin barrier recovery following a brief stressor. In addition, these results provide additional evidence that trait PA can positively impact objective health outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Califonia, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563, USA. robles@psych.ucla.edu
authors.forename: Theodore F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Robles
authors.forename: Kathryn P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pressman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002605:Character; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011603:Psychophysiology; D012867:Skin / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult