Key result
Sex-related differences in the stress response are observed in blood pressure and cortisol, while age may explain differences in cortisol levels and basal sympathetic nervous system activity.
Why the study?
Do sex and age influence the psychophysiological response to psychosocial stress?
Do sex and age influence the psychophysiological response to psychosocial stress?
Sex and age are important factors that influence the psychophysiological response to social stressors, particularly affecting blood pressure and cortisol levels.
Sex differences in cortisol/BP stress responses warrant stratified analyses; leaves open tailored prevention strategies.
BACKGROUND: Understanding the factors involved in the psychophysiological response of people in acute stressful situations is crucial to the prevention and treatment of stress-related health problems. We aim to integrate the results of studies investigating the role of sex and age in the inter-individual variability in several biomarkers of the stress response. METHODS: We summarize the main findings of our research group and other laboratories regarding sex and age-related differences in the psychophysiological response to psychosocial stress. RESULTS: Sex-related differences in the stress response are observed in blood pressure and cortisol, but not in heart rate, heart rate variability, or salivary alpha-amylase. Additionally, age may explain differences in cortisol levels and basal sympathetic nervous system activity. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of taking sex and age into account in order to understand the stress response and its possible negative effects on health.
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Pulopulos et al. (2018) conducted a review in Psychosocial stress. Sex and age was evaluated on Psychophysiological response to psychosocial stress (biomarkers). Sex-related differences in the stress response are observed in blood pressure and cortisol, while age may explain differences in cortisol levels and basal sympathetic nervous system activity.
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