title: Overprotective social support leads to increased cardiovascular and subjective stress reactivity.
abstract: Self-determination theory suggests that autonomy-enhancing social support helps individuals to perceive stressors as challenging rather than stressing. Overprotective support may reduce stress in the short-run but undermines autonomy, thus hampering stress-coping in the long run, particularly when social support is terminated.
  
  
  
  Heartrate, blood-pressure and ratings were examined in N=44 undergraduate students receiving autonomy support (calculation steps) or overprotection (solutions) from a close friend or no support for solving arithmetic tasks as well as during a subsequent stress-challenge (solving arithmetic tasks alone).
  
  
  
  Overprotection resulted in increased heartrate, diastolic blood-pressure, stress ratings, and decreased subjective control during stress-challenge. Autonomy support did not lead to unfavorable stress responding.
  
  
  
  The current findings are in line with assumptions derived from self-determination theory and indicate that autonomy support can help to prevent stress. Overprotection does not buffer stress and is associated with increased stress when discontinued.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zniva
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pauli
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Heart Failure Center, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. Electronic address: schulz@psychologie.uni-wuerzburg.de.
authors.forename: Stefan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autonomy support; Cardiovascular stress reactivity; Overprotection; Self-determination theory; Social support