Adult age differences in the psychophysiological response to acute stress

Article Article scientifique Article Adult age differences in the psychophysiological response to acute stress eng 2023-04-11 2023-07 author Mikneviciute Greta 0000-0001-7174-3600 800104 author Pulopulos Matias M. author Allaert Jens author Armellini Alexis 804055 author Rimmele Ulrike 784969 Section de psychologie (PSICO) author Kliegel Matthias 761733 Section de psychologie (PSICO) author Ballhausen Nicola 802674 106111 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106111 37075654 0306-4530 https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0306453023000896 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<sub>age</sub> = 23.06; SD = 2.90) and older adults (N = 50; 65-84; M<sub>age</sub> = 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. Stress response TSST Aging Age differences Cortisol Appraisal Dewey 128.37 Dewey 616.8 Dewey 150 Dewey 618.97 Swiss National Science Foundation NCCR LIVES: Overcoming vulnerability - life course perspectives (phase III) 185901 CH Programmes Swiss National Science Foundation How emotion, stress and their regulation shape and alter episodic memories across the life span 186911 CH Careers 108 Section de psychologie 71 16 Centre interfacultaire de neurosciences 0D9 14 Centre interfacultaire de gérontologie et d'études des vulnérabilités 0D6 15 Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives 0D8 false 633 Cognitive Aging Lab (CAL) b0de4c4f-eeb7-4c34-88f9-d3772d5c3d0a NCCR LIVES 1241 Affective sciences Psychoneuroendocrinology 153 5f57735a-086c-4a9c-aa7b-a3b1435f3c66 Article (Published version) Public 1-s2.0-S0306453023000896-main.pdf 1308728 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 09b0f524a03b159728eb8c3e7d2bea0416d22ecf34a62e15b8eb2e12d73326e0 1c0c48f6-7e59-4b1b-9272-164d6af80578 Appendix Public 1-s2.0-S0306453023000896-mmc1.docx 664837 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document f34c2fc9891ab3d156b2f5821f975de1f17d5910b472a1632de257a4c169ef8f openAccess Faculté de psychologie et des sciences de l'éducation / Section de psychologie Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire de neurosciences Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire de gérontologie et d'études des vulnérabilités Centres et instituts / Centre interfacultaire en sciences affectives

Title	Published in	Year	Views	Downloads

Adult age differences in the psychophysiological response to acute stress	Psychoneuroendocrinology	2023	210	606
Rôle de l'évaluation cognitive et des stratégies de coping sur la dynamique du cortisol en situation de stress aigu		2021	94	0

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Armellini, Alexis