Anger responses to psychosocial stress predict heart rate and cortisol stress responses in men but not women

Abstract

While previous research has suggested that anger and fear responses to stress are linked to distinct sympathetic nervous system (SNS) stress responses, little is known about how these emotions predict hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity. Further, earlier research primarily relied on retrospective self-report of emotion. The current study aimed at addressing both issues in male and female individuals by assessing the role of anger and fear in predicting heart rate and cortisol stress responses using both self-report and facial coding analysis to assess emotion responses. We exposed 32 healthy students (18 female; 19.6+/−1.7 yrs.) to an acute psychosocial stress paradigm (TSST) and measured heart rate and salivary cortisol levels throughout the protocol. Anger and fear before and after stress exposure was assessed by self-report, and video recordings of the TSST were assessed by a certified facial coder to determine emotion expression (FACS). Self-reported emotions and emotion expressions did not correlate (all p > .23). Increases in self-reported fear predicted blunted cortisol responses in men (β = 0.41, p = .04). Also for men, longer durations of anger expression predicted exaggerated cortisol responses (β = 0.67 p = .004), and more anger incidences predicted exaggerated cortisol and heart rate responses (β = 0.51, p = .033; β = 0.46, p = .066, resp.). Anger and fear did not predict SNS or HPA activity for females (all p > .23). The current differential self-report and facial coding findings support the use of multiple modes of emotion assessment. Particularly, FACS but not self-report revealed a robust anger-stress association that could have important downstream health effects for men. For women, future research may clarify the role of other emotions, such as self-conscious expressions of shame, for physiological stress responses. A better understanding of the emotion-stress link may contribute to behavioral interventions targeting health-promoting ways of responding emotionally to stress.

Role of shame and body esteem in cortisol stress responses

“…Additionally, facial coding and self-report capture different components of emotion: facial coding allows for assessment of visceral, less-processed emotion experience in the moment of stress, while self-report reflects the perception of emotion after cognitive processing and self-reflection have occurred (Crockett et al, 1987). In line with this differentiation, prior research using FACS in the context of the TSST did reveal associations between anger expression and cortisol responses among men in the absence of such links for self-reported emotions (Lupis et al, 2014). Hence, although no emotion expression–cortisol relationships were discovered in the current study, future studies assessing the role of other emotions besides self-conscious emotions for cortisol stress responses may still benefit from using both methods, self-report and facial coding in conjunction.…”

“…While this approach increased statistical power, it may have obscured differential links between shame expressions and cortisol stress responses. The current study further focused on expressions of self-conscious emotions; however, prior studies have shown that other emotions (most notably, fear and anger) could determine strength of both SNS and HPA axis reactivity to stress, thus emphasizing the value of exploring emotion–stress links using facial coding analysis (Ekman et al, 1983; Levenson, 1992; Lupis et al, 2014; Moons et al, 2010). Together these findings suggest that future studies may benefit from assessing potential stress-relevant effects of specific emotion response patterns.…”

Salivary Biomarkers in Psychological Stress Diagnosis

“…Burn wound care [19] To examine the levels of salivary pH as a possible biomarker Salivary pH -- [8] To address both issues in male and female individuals by assessing the role of anger and fear in predicting heart rate and cortisol stress responses using both self-report and facial coding analysis to assess emotion responses.…”

“…Acute stress activates a coordinated set of physiological responses (by the Sympathetic Nervous System and HPA) that prepares the body to deal with an immediate threat [7,8].…”

“…Therefore, the responses to psychological stress are multidimensional, presenting dimensions as psychosocial and physical responses [17]. Stress may elicit a range of emotions, pathologies, behaviors, thus a better understanding of this relationship may lead to the development of behavioral interventions targeting health-promoting ways of responding emotionally to stress [8].…”