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University of Massachusetts Amherst

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Cortisol

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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

A Threat Vs. Challenge View Of Conflict In Romantic Relationships, Casey J. Debuse Jan 2012

A Threat Vs. Challenge View Of Conflict In Romantic Relationships, Casey J. Debuse

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This research examined romantic partners’ stress reactivity to relationship conflict through the lens of a threat vs. challenge perspective. We assessed the DHEA-S to cortisol ratio (anabolic balance) as an index of 330 newlywed partners’ threat or challenge orientations to a conflict discussion with their spouse and then examined whether these orientations were predicted by their attachment styles. Consistent with predictions, anxious attachment predicted lower anabolic balance trajectories, compared to secure attachment. Results were decomposed into DHEA-S and cortisol components. DHEA-S levels were found to be more congruent with challenge, while cortisol levels were more congruent with threat.


How Your Spouse May Save You: An Analysis Of Early Environment, Physiological Stress Responses, And Spousal Support, Dana P. Roth Jan 2012

How Your Spouse May Save You: An Analysis Of Early Environment, Physiological Stress Responses, And Spousal Support, Dana P. Roth

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Growing up in an adverse early environment is related to a number of negative health outcomes later in life, and dysregulation of the HPA axis may serve as the means by which this process occurs (Repetti et al., 2002). Indeed, early environment has been linked to altered physiological responses to general stressors in adulthood, but it remains unclear whether physiological responses to marital stress are also affected. Thus, the present work addresses two central questions in 129 newlywed couples: (1) How does growing up in an adverse early environment relate to physiological stress responses (assessed by cortisol) to a relationship …