title: Intra-individual psychological and physiological responses to acute laboratory stressors of different intensity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The phenomenon of stress is understood as a multidimensional concept which can be captured by psychological and physiological measures. There are various laboratory stress protocols which enable stress to be investigated under controlled conditions. However, little is known about whether these protocols differ with regard to the induced psycho-physiological stress response pattern.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a within-subjects design, 20 healthy young men underwent four of the most common stress protocols (Stroop test [Stroop], cold pressor test [CPT], Trier Social Stress Test [TSST], and bicycle ergometer test [Ergometer]) and a no-stress control condition (rest) in a randomized order. For the multidimensional assessment of the stress response, perceived stress, endocrine and autonomic biomarkers (salivary cortisol, salivary alpha-amylase, and heart rate) were obtained during the experiments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All stress protocols evoked increases in perceived stress levels, with the highest levels in the TSST, followed by Ergometer, Stroop, and CPT. The highest HPA axis response was found in the TSST, followed by Ergometer, CPT, and Stroop, whilst the highest autonomic response was found in the Ergometer, followed by TSST, Stroop, and CPT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that different stress protocols differentially stimulate various aspects of the stress response. Physically demanding stress protocols such as the Ergometer test appear to be particularly suitable for evoking autonomic stress responses, whereas uncontrollable and social-evaluative threatening stressors (such as the TSST) are most likely to elicit HPA axis stress responses. The results of this study may help researchers in deciding which stress protocol to use, depending on the individual research question.
authors.affiliation: University of Marburg, Department of Psychology, Germany.
authors.forename: Nadine
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Skoluda
authors.affiliation: University of Marburg, Department of Psychology, Germany.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strahler
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolff
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schlotz
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Niederberger
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: University of Marburg, Department of Psychology, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Myriam V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Thoma
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spoerri
authors.affiliation: University of Zurich, Department of Psychology, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ehlert
authors.affiliation: University of Marburg, Department of Psychology, Germany. Electronic address: nater@uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Urs M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Nater
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Alpha-amylase; Cold pressor test; Cortisol; Ergometer; Heart rate; Laboratory stressor; Stress reactivity; Stroop test; Trier Social Stress Test