Coping dispositions and physiological recovery from a speech preparation stressor

Abstract

Reductions in autonomic activation and muscle tension were considered to indicate adaptive relaxation following relief from a presumed stressor. Repressive coping styles were predicted to give less fall in various psychophysiological indices of activation, indicating a physiological ‘cost’ (of repression of feelings). Forty-two male volunteers were unexpectedly given 3 min to prepare a speech for immediate delivery. But then no speech was required, only relaxation while listening to 8 min of soothing music. Concurrent psychophysiological indices included integrated neck trapezius muscle electromyogram. non-specific skin conductance response (rate and mean amplitude), heart rate, finger pulse volume, and finger pulse volume fluctuation rate. Saliva was sampled after speech preparation and relaxation, and [K + ] and [Na + ] were measured. Eysenck's ‘Eysenck Personality Questionnaire’, Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and Rationality/Emotional Defensiveness Scale, Roger's Emotion Control Questionnaire, and Krohne's Mainz Coping Inventory were applied. Introverts showed more tension (higher tonic electromyogram) during speech preparation and afterwards did not exhibit adaptive reduction in electromyogram. Emotional inhibition correlated negatively with electromyogram change. These results support the hypothesis that slow muscular relaxation following release from a stressor is a feature of introversion and emotional inhibition.