Key result
Higher defensiveness was associated with greater blood pressure and heart rate reactivity to stress in women (p<.05), whereas lower defensiveness increased stress reactivity in older men (p<.02).
Why the study?
Does defensiveness influence physiological stress responses in healthy working adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=199)
Does defensiveness influence physiological stress responses in healthy working adults?
p-value: p=<.05
The physiological response to interpersonal stress varies by sex and age, with higher defensiveness increasing reactivity in women and lower defensiveness increasing reactivity in older men.
Sex- and age-specific defensiveness effects on stress reactivity are hypothesis-generating; prospective studies needed before clinical consideration.
The association between defensiveness and physiological responses to stress were evaluated in 81 healthy working men and 118 women, aged 20 to 64 years (M=41; SD=11.45). Participants underwent laboratory testing during which they were exposed to interpersonal stressors. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), blood pressure (BP), and salivary cortisol were measured. Defensiveness was evaluated using the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. In women, higher defensiveness was associated with greater BP and HR reactivity to stress (p<.05). In older men, lower defensiveness was associated with increased systolic BP reactivity to stress (p<.02), delayed HRV recovery (p<.02), and greater salivary cortisol levels (p<.02). In conclusion, greater defensiveness was associated with increased reactivity to stress in women whereas in older men, lower defensiveness was associated with elevated cardiovascular, autonomic, and endocrine responses to stress.
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Lévesque et al. (2010) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy adults (n=199). Defensiveness vs. Lower defensiveness was evaluated on Physiological responses to stress (blood pressure, heart rate, heart rate variability, and salivary cortisol) (p=<.05). Higher defensiveness was associated with greater blood pressure and heart rate reactivity to stress in women (p<.05), whereas lower defensiveness increased stress reactivity in older men (p<.02).
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