High perceived stress in relation to life events is associated with blunted cardiac reactivity

Abstract

The current study examined whether the perception of life stress related to cardiovascular reactivity. Participants (n=100) completed the Perceived Stress Scale, the Undergraduate Stress Questionnaire, and undertook a standard mental arithmetic stress task. Blood pressure and pulse rate were measured at baseline, during, and following stress task exposure. Reactivity was the difference between stress and baseline cardiovascular activity. A perceived stress difference score (PSDS) was calculated by subtracting the Undergraduate Stress Questionnaire scores from the Perceived Stress Scale scores. Two groups were created: high PSDS (n=15; PSDS at least 1SD above the mean) and low PSDS (n=15; PSDS at least 1SD below the mean). There was a significant difference between groups in pulse rate reactivity, F(1,28)=8.73, p=.006, η2=.24. High PSDS scores were associated with significantly lower pulse rate reactions to stress. Those who perceived their lives as more stressful than their actual stress exposures justified would appear to be characterised by blunted cardiac reactivity.