Differential hemodynamic effects during the provision of active and passive support in the laboratory.
OBJECTIVE
Recent research has pointed to the cardiovascular benefits of providing social support to others in times of stress; however, little is known about what factors influence such benefits.


METHODS
In a between-groups design, we investigated the possible interaction between intimacy (friend vs. stranger) and support type (active vs. passive) in determining the cardiovascular responses of support providers. Eighty participants had their blood pressure and heart rate monitored while providing either active or passive social support to a friend or a stranger who completed a stress task.


RESULTS
Although there was no interaction effect, a significant main effect showed that those who provided passive support showed larger decreases relative to those in the active support condition. There was no effect of intimacy. Further, these effects withstood adjustment for a number of potential confounds (e.g. sex and body mass index).


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that the greatest physiological benefit for social support providers may come from providing passive, rather than active support, regardless of whether the support receiver is a friend or a stranger.
a Department of Psychology , University of Limerick , Limerick , Ireland.
Stephen
S
Gallagher
Siobhán
S
Howard
Marese
M
Heffernan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult
blood pressure; cardiovascular reactivity; social support; stress