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Adult age differences in the psychophysiological response to acute stress
Mikneviciute,Greta Pulopulos,Matias M Allaert,Jens Armellini,Alexis Rimmele,Ulrike Kliegel,Matthias Ballhausen,Nicola
Mikneviciute,Greta
Pulopulos,Matias M
Allaert,Jens
Armellini,Alexis
Rimmele,Ulrike
Kliegel,Matthias
Ballhausen,Nicola
Abstract
Age-related differences in the psychophysiology of the acute stress response are poorly understood given the limited number of studies and the high heterogeneity of findings. The present study contributes by investigating age differences in both the psychological and physiological responses to acute stress in a sample of healthy younger (N = 50; 18-30; M age = 23.06; SD = 2.90) and older adults (N = 50; 65-84; M age = 71.12; SD = 5.02). Specifically, the effects of psychosocial stress (i.e., age-adapted Trier Social Stress Test) were investigated at numerous timepoints throughout the stress response phases (i.e., baseline, anticipation, reactivity, recovery) on cortisol, heart rate, subjective stress, and anticipatory appraisal of the stressful situation. The study was conducted in a between-subject (younger vs. older) cross-over (stress vs. control) design. Results revealed age-related differences in both physiological and psychological variables: older adults had overall lower salivary cortisol levels in the stress and control conditions and lower stress-induced cortisol increase (i.e., AUCi). In addition, older adults' cortisol reactivity was delayed compared to younger adults. Older adults showed a lower heart rate response in the stress condition while no age differences were observed in the control condition. Finally, older adults reported less subjective stress and a less negative stress appraisal during the anticipation phase than younger adults, which could potentially explain lower physiological reactivity in this age group. Results are discussed in relation to the existing literature, potential underlying mechanisms, and future directions for the field.
Description
This publication benefited from the support of the Swiss National Centre of Competence in Research LIVES – Overcoming vulnerability: Life course perspectives (NCCR LIVES), which is financed by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number: 51NF40-185901). U.R. is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number: PCEFP1_186911). The authors are grateful to the Swiss National Science Foundation for its financial assistance. In addition, M.M.P. is supported by the Research Foundations FWO and F.R.S.-FNRS under the Excellence of Science (EOS) program (EOS 40007528) and J.A. is supported by the Research Foundations FWO (FWO POSTDOC 12C9923N // FWO FELLOW 12C9923N).
Date
2023
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Research Projects
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Keywords
Age differences, Aging, Appraisal, Cortisol, Stress response, TSST
Citation
Mikneviciute, G, Pulopulos, M M, Allaert, J, Armellini, A, Rimmele, U, Kliegel, M & Ballhausen, N 2023, 'Adult age differences in the psychophysiological response to acute stress', Psychoneuroendocrinology, vol. 153, 106111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106111