Title The conjoined effect of naturalistic perceived available support and enacted support on cardiovascular reactivity during a laboratory stressor.
Author Schwerdtfeger, Andreas Richard; Schlagert, Henrike
Journal Ann Behav Med Publication Year/Month 2011-Aug
PMID 21560026 PMCID -N/A-
Affiliation 1.Department of Psychology, Karl-Franzens-University, Graz, Austria. andreas.schwerdtfeger@uni-graz.at.

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.

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