The Conjoined Effect of Naturalistic Perceived Available Support and Enacted Support on Cardiovascular Reactivity During a Laboratory Stressor

BACKGROUND: Studies have suggested that enacted social support has salutogenetic effects on cardiovascular activation during stress. PURPOSE: This study aims to examine the conjoined effect of naturalistic perceived available support and enacted support on cardiovascular reactivity to a laboratory stressor. METHODS: Seventy-one participants assigned themselves to one of two conditions: enacted social support before the onset of a stressor or no support. Perceived available support was assessed via a questionnaire, and heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (BRS) were analyzed in response to a speech task. RESULTS: Whereas perceived available support was unrelated to cardiovascular activity in the no-support condition, it was accompanied by attenuated HR and increased HRV in the enacted-support condition. Moreover, perceived available support was associated with greater HR, HRV, and BRS reactivity to the speech task and better MAP recovery. CONCLUSION: Together, these findings support the assumption that different aspects of social support are related to different physiological processes.