A large-scale study of stress, emotions, and blood pressure in daily life using a digital platform

Frontal and temporo-parietal changes in delta and alpha power accompany stress-induced vasoconstriction and blood pressure response

Exaggerated blood pressure and vasoconstriction responses during acute mental stress are prospectively associated with an increased risk of hypertension, arrhythmia, and vascular dysfunction. This study assessed electrophysiological brain power and cardiovascular response to acute psychological stress during concurrent recordings of magnetoencephalography, muscle sympathetic nerve activity, and blood pressure in 29 healthy participants. Brain power was filtered through delta (1-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), beta (13-30 Hz), low gamma (30-80 Hz), and high gamma (80-120 Hz) bands. Stress induced significant increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP), 5.2 ± 5.6 mmHg, heart rate, 4.1 ± 4.8 beats/min, and sympathetic nerve activity, 4.0 ± 8.0 bursts per minute (means ± SD, P < 5). Whole head and region of interest analyses showed stress induced significant increases in delta power in the right medial frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, and amygdala. Alternatively, there were significant decreases in alpha power in the left and right precuneus, posterior cingulate, hippocampus, and in the right thalamus and insula. Correlation analyses revealed that reduced alpha power in the right insula was correlated with SBP (r = 0.446). Moreover, reduced alpha power in the left amygdala was correlated with SBP (r = 0.392), anxiety, and depression inventory scores, P < 0.01. The reduced alpha power in the insula and amygdala was pronounced in participants displaying heightened sympathetic nerve reactivity to stress. Similarly, participants who displayed higher mean SBP reactivity (of 19 mmHg) to stress showed reduced alpha power in the precuneus, hippocampus, and amygdala. Our results suggest that regionalized and frequency-specific brain power is involved in neurogenic blood pressure regulation in normotensive individuals.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study illustrates a correlation between electrophysiological brain power, sympathetic nerve activity, and blood pressure in response to stress. Notable mental stress-induced changes were observed, including an increase in delta power in the frontal regions and a decrease in alpha power in the temporal and parietal regions. The diminished alpha power in the insula, amygdala, precuneus, and hippocampus was particularly significant among individuals exhibiting greater vasoconstrictor activity and a higher increase in systolic blood pressure.

The Impact of Yoga Practices on Body Composition and Vital Signs in Children and Adolescents With Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Clear recommendations for treating childhood obesity include family involvement, improving diet quality, reducing portion sizes, increasing physical activity, and decreasing sedentary behaviors.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide evidence the effects of yoga interventions on BMI, weight, body composition, and vital signs in children or adolescents with overweight/obesity. This study searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases to include all studies published up to June 2024. Methodological quality was assessed with the RoB 2. Randomized or nonrandomized controlled studies were included. The standardized mean difference with a 95% confidence interval was calculated. Heterogeneity was analyzed using the I2 test and Q statistic. Publication bias was assessed with the Egger regression test.

RESULTS

This meta-analysis included nine studies. Pooled evidence found that yoga significantly reduces BMI and body fat percentage in children or young people with overweight/obesity.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, findings derived from pooled data yoga intervention is an effective method for weight management in children and adolescents with obesity. Additionally, considering that yoga is a calming and mind-body-based intervention, it is recommended that future studies also examine the psychological effects of yoga in children and adolescents with obesity.

Effect of brief dog-assisted interventions on psychobiological indicators of stress: a systematic review

Despite the growing popularity of dog-assisted interventions (DAI), limited empirical evidence exists on their effect on the physiological stress response. The current systematic review examines the existing literature on the effect of a single, brief DAI on psychobiological indicators of stress in different demographics and settings, with a focus on identifying methodological strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the field. A brief intervention is considered as lasting up to 45 minutes. Twenty-six relevant studies, each involving a group of participants receiving DAI and at least one control condition, were identified and analyzed for methodological quality and findings. The review aimed to identify gaps in knowledge and contributes to a deeper understanding of DAI, offering insights for future research. Evidence to date partially supports the notion that a brief therapeutic intervention with the assistance of a dog may influence the autonomic stress response. However, this review highlights a need to standardize methodologies when collecting psychobiological indicators of stress to clarify the relationship between DAI and physiological stress responses.

A review of music performance anxiety in the lens of stress models

Music performance anxiety (MPA) is a widespread challenge among musicians, often impairing performance quality and well-being. While traditionally conceptualized as a debilitating condition, recent research suggests that MPA can have both facilitative and detrimental effects, depending on how it is appraised and regulated. This paper reviews theoretical stress models relevant to MPA, emphasizing frameworks such as stress optimization and synergistic mindsets that help reframe anxiety as a potential resource. By integrating insights from affective science and stress research, this review highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to MPA-one that moves beyond symptom reduction to foster adaptive responses that enhance musical performance. Future research should continue exploring personalized and flexible interventions that equip musicians with the tools to navigate evaluative pressure effectively.

Burden and determinants of self-reported high blood pressure among women of reproductive age in Tanzania: Evidence from 2022 Tanzania demographic and health survey

BACKGROUND

High blood pressure, commonly referred to as hypertension, remains a prevalent global health concern characterized by elevated arterial pressure, posing significant risks such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and kidney diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the burden and determinants of self-reported high blood pressure among women of reproductive age in Tanzania.

METHODS

We utilized population-based cross-sectional data obtained from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) 2022. The analysis involved a weighted sample of 15,254 women aged 15-49 years. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to examine the independent variables associated with self-reported high blood pressure, and the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The significance level was set at p <  0.05 for all analyses.

RESULTS

Overall, the mean age of study participants was 29.3 ±  9.8 years, with a self-reported high blood pressure burden of 6.6% among women of reproductive age in Tanzania. Moreover, increased age correlated with higher odds of high blood pressure compared to women aged 15-19 years. Those with a secondary level of education exhibited a higher likelihood of high blood pressure in contrast to women with no education. Married and widowed individuals were more prone to high blood pressure than those who were never married. Additionally, women in higher wealth groups showed a significantly elevated risk of high blood pressure compared to those in the poorest wealth group. Conversely, self-reported poor health status and recent visits to health facilities were associated with significantly higher odds of high blood pressure.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the burden of high blood pressure among reproductive-age women, urging heightened awareness and proactive screening measures. These findings prompt targeted interventions, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to effectively curb this health burden.

Identity as a resource or a demand

Individuals embody various social identities that can impact how they interface with the social environment. Stigma theories suggest that members of low-status or marginalized groups possess devalued social identities, and therefore, experience more stress. While social identities can lead to increased stress, individuals' appraisals of their identities are not necessarily perceived as harmful/demanding. Rather, social identities can also be appraised as resources or sources of strength bringing opportunities and facilitating goal attainment. Using the biopsychosocial (BPS) model of challenge and threat as a conceptual foundation, this research developed a novel measure to assess individuals' appraisals of their social identities. In Study 1 (N = 575), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) evaluated the theorized factor structure (i.e., resource and demand appraisals) and assessed the overall fit of the model. Structural equation modeling (SEM) tested for associations between the resource and demand latent factors. Individuals appraising their ethnic-racial identity as a resource exhibited improved self and intergroup outcomes, while those perceiving it as a demand reported worse self-based and intergroup outcomes, as well as more distress. Study 2 (N = 743 Black and White Americans), which was preregistered, examined group differences in appraisals of ethnic-racial identity. SEM revealed that Black participants were more likely than White participants to appraise their ethnic-racial identity as demanding, leading to worse social and intergroup outcomes. Even when Black participants perceived their ethnic-racial identity as a resource, they still reported higher levels of discrimination, intergroup anxiety, and behavioral avoidance compared to their White counterparts. Implications for theory development and application to the stress literature are discussed.

Medically Tailored Grocery Deliveries to Improve Food Security and Hypertension in Underserved Groups: A Student-Run Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to evaluate the impact of food is medicine (FIM) programs, such as medically tailored groceries (MTGs) to treat hypertension among diverse populations. Partnerships between academic centers' student-run organizations (SROs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) offer critical safety nets for historically underserved groups, positioning these organizations to effectively undertake FIM programs among populations disproportionately affected by hypertension. We conducted an unblinded pilot RCT whose objectives were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an SRO-coordinated, CBO-partnered MTGs intervention targeting blood pressure (BP) and food insecurity (FI) in underserved groups.

METHODS

Adult Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx patients in Durham, North Carolina, where essential hypertension and FI were randomized (parallel arm, computerized 1:1 ratio) to 12 weeks of home-delivered, hypertension-focused MTGs plus in-person nutrition education sessions with compensation (intervention) versus data collection sessions with compensation (control). We offered transportation, childcare, and home visits to facilitate session attendance. The primary outcomes were the eligibility, enrollment, and retention rates (feasibility), and the survey feedback from the participants and CBO partners (acceptability). The secondary outcomes included the changes in the mean BP and median FI score with associated 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Medical record screening identified 1577 eligible participants. Of the 94 reached to confirm eligibility, 77 met the enrollment criteria, and 50 were randomized (82% post-screen eligibility, 65% enrollment). A conventional content analysis of 15 participant surveys and CBO partner feedback affirmed the acceptability, noting intervention components that enhanced the retention (e.g., home delivery, transportation support, home visits). Pre-post analyses of secondary outcomes for 13/25 intervention and 15/25 control participants completing ≥2 sessions ≥2 months apart were performed. The intervention was associated with an average change in systolic BP of -14.2 mmHg (-27.5, -4.5) versus -3.5 mmHg (-11.7, 5.9) in the control group. The FI scores improved by -2 (-2.2, -0.5) in the intervention group and -1 (-1.3, -0.2) in the control group. No adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

SRO-CBO partnerships could be feasible and acceptable avenues for conducting FIM trials among underserved populations. This multi-component FIM approach enhanced the study equity by addressing the participants' disease-related social needs and warrants expansion into a powered RCT.

In-silico simultaneous respiratory and circulatory measurement during voluntary breathing, exercise, and mental stress: A computational approach

Voluntary breathing (VB), short-term exercise (STE), and mental stress (MS) can modulate breathing rate (BR), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP), thereby affecting human physical and mental state. While existing experimental studies have explored the relationship between VB, STE, or MS and BR, HR, and BP changes, their findings remain fragmented due to individual differences and challenges in simultaneous, BR, HR, and BP measurements. We propose a computational approach for in-silico simultaneous measurements of the physiological values by comprehensive prediction of the respiratory and circulatory system responses to VB, STE, or MS. Our integrated model combines a respiratory system with a circulatory model, leveraging actor-critic reinforcement learning to control respiratory muscles. We introduce specific parameters to account for involuntary or VB and hyperventilation induced by STE. We modeled mental stress as an electrical input to the amygdala based on prior studies indicating that stress leads to amygdala hyperactivity. Our predictions for breathing rate (BR), tidal volume, minute ventilation, HR, and BP are validated against literature data obtained during various conditions, including different VB patterns (ranging from 6 to 14 bpm), active or passive knee flexion STE, and MS load. The model demonstrates good agreement with experimental results and highlights its ability to explore the mechanism of individual differences. Our model predicts heart rate variability (HRV) indices of total power spectral density and the ellipse area of Poincaré plot. Notably, slow deep breathing at a BR of 6 bpm increases HRV indices, promoting relaxation and cognitive performance. Conversely, MS elevates BP but reduces HRV indices, indicating an unstable and risky state for mental and physical health. Overall, our proposed computational approach provides simultaneous and reasonable predictions of various physiological values, accounting for individual variations through specific parameters.

How the arts heal: a review of the neural mechanisms behind the therapeutic effects of creative arts on mental and physical health

Background

The creative arts have long been known for their therapeutic potential. These modalities, which include dance, painting, and music, among others, appear to be effective in enhancing emotional expression and alleviating adverse physiological and psychological effects. Engagement in creative arts can be pursued as a personal hobby, in a classroom setting, or through a formal therapeutic intervention with a qualified therapist. Engagement can be active (i.e., creating) or passive (i.e., viewing, listening). Regardless of the modality and manner of engagement, the mechanisms explaining the therapeutic efficacy of creative arts remain poorly understood.

Objective

This study aims to systematically review research investigating the neurological mechanisms activated during active or passive engagement in creative arts, with a specific emphasis on the roles of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the amygdala in emotional regulation (ER) and creative behaviors. The review seeks to provide preliminary evidence for the possible existence of common neural mechanisms underlying both phenomena, which could inform the development of targeted therapeutic interventions leveraging creative arts for ER.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted following the Cochrane Collaboration guideline and PRISMA standards to identify studies examining the neurological mechanisms underlying creative activities.

Results

A total of six out of 85 records meet the inclusion criteria, with all being basic research studies. Preliminary findings suggest that active and passive engagement with creative arts consistently activate neural circuits implicated in adaptive emotional regulation, including the mPFC and amygdala. These activations mirror the neural pathways engaged in effective ER strategies, suggesting the possible existence of shared mechanisms between creative expression and emotional processing.

Conclusion

The evidence underscores the potential of creative arts as a complementary therapeutic strategy alongside conventional care and other evidence-based mind-body modalities. By elucidating the shared neural mechanisms between creative arts engagement and ER, this review contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of the role of creative arts in mental health. Future research is recommended to further explore these neural correlations and their implications for therapeutic practice.

Cooperation and competition have same benefits but different costs

Cooperation and competition shape everyday human interactions and impact individuals' chances of success in different domains. Using a virtual Stroop test, classically employed to assess general cognitive interference, we examined the impact of social context (cooperation and competition) and other's ability (higher and lower performers) on performance, perceived stress, and autonomic activity. In Experiment 1, we found that both cooperation with a lower performer and competition with a higher performer led to similar enhancement in performance. However, only competition with a more skilled opponent induced an increase in perceived stress and physiological activity. Experiment 2 further demonstrated that these effects persisted even with prolonged exposure to these contexts. In summary, cooperation can be just as effective as competition in improving individuals' performance. However, cooperation does not carry the same level of stress and physiological burden as the competitive context, representing a healthier and more optimal way to boost individual performance.

Cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress is associated with generalized self-efficacy and self-efficacy outcomes during adventure challenges

Outdoor adventure challenges are commonly used to enhance self-efficacy, but the physiological mechanisms involved remain unexplored. Additionally, while studies have documented the influence of self-efficacy on stress management, general self-efficacy has yet to be fully understood in the context of cardiovascular stress reactivity (CVR). This study investigated the influence of self-efficacy beliefs on CVR during acute psychological stress tasks. Additionally, it explored whether CVR serves as a novel mechanism underlying the outcomes of outdoor adventure challenges. As part of a wider randomized controlled trial, participants (n = 55) were invited to complete a laboratory session to assess CVR to an active (paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT)) and a passive (cold pressor test (CPT)) stress task. Randomized participants (n = 33) to the experimental condition also engaged in a high ropes challenge course after the laboratory session. It was found that greater self-reported self-efficacy was associated with larger CVR during the CPT and positively associated with perceived engagement and performance during the PASAT. Secondly, participants reporting positive change in self-efficacy post-intervention were associated with greater CVR and greater CVR was associated with higher ratings of intervention engagement and perceived challenge. This study provides preliminary evidence suggesting that greater efficacy beliefs may heighten CVR to passive acute psychological stressors. Habitual stress reactivity may represent a novel mechanism involved in outdoor and adventure-based interventions. Future research should continue to explore the impact of psychological variables on stress physiology and examine CVR as a potential mechanism in adventure experiences.

Localizing somatic symptoms associated with childhood maltreatment

Childhood maltreatment has been linked to adult somatic symptoms, although this has rarely been examined in daily life. Furthermore, the localization of somatization associated with childhood maltreatment and its subtypes is unknown. This large-scale experience sampling study used body maps to examine the relationships between childhood maltreatment, its subtypes, and the intensity and location of negative somatic sensations in daily life. Participants (N = 2,234; 33% female and 67% male) were part of MyBPLab 2.0, a study conducted using a bespoke mobile phone application. Four categories of childhood maltreatment (emotional abuse, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and physical neglect) were measured using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Using gender-matched human silhouettes, participants indicated the location and intensity of feelings of negative activation in the body. Childhood maltreatment generally and its four measured subtypes were all positively associated with heightened negative activation on both the front and back body maps. For females, total childhood maltreatment was associated with negative activation in the abdomen and lower back, while for males, the association was localized to the lower back. Similarly, each of the four subscales had localized associations with negative activation in the abdomen and lower back in females and lower back in males, except for emotional abuse, which was also associated with negative activation in the abdomen in males. These associations likely reflect increased somatization in individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment, suggesting a role for psychotherapeutic interventions in alleviating associated distress.

The Good, the Bad, and the Variable: Examining Stress and Blood Pressure Responses to Close Relationships

Social relationships influence physical health, yet questions remain regarding the nature of this association. For instance, when it comes to predicting health-relevant processes in daily life, few studies have examined (a) the relative importance of both positive and negative relational experiences, and (b) variability in relational experiences (in addition to mean levels). To address these gaps, we conducted a daily study (N = 4,005; ~ 30,000 observations) examining relationships, stress, and physiology in daily life. Heart rate and blood pressure were assessed using an optic sensor and integrated with an app-based study. Results demonstrated that higher mean levels of positive and lower mean levels of negative relational experiences predicted lower stress, better coping, and better physiological functioning in daily life, such as lower systolic blood pressure reactivity. Greater variability in negative (but not positive) relational experiences predicted lower stress, better coping, and lower systolic blood pressure reactivity.

Stress reduction experiments in daily life: Scaling from the lab to the world

Paced breathing-longer exhalation than inhalation-can show short-term improvement of physiologic responses and affective well-being, though most studies have relied on narrow sample demographics, small samples, and control conditions that fail to address expectancy effects. We addressed these limitations through an app-based experiment where participants were randomly assigned to paced breathing or sham control (hand closure) conditions. We first validated the conditions in an online sample (N = 201; Study 1) and in a lab environment (N = 72; Study 2). In the primary app-based experiment, participants (N = 3,277; Study 3) completed 3 days of baseline assessments that included three check-ins each day in which we obtained heart rate and blood pressure responses using an optic sensor and assessed current stress and emotions. Participants were then randomly assigned to either the paced breathing or hand closure condition for the next 6 days. Relative to baseline days, both conditions were associated with increased positive emotions and perceived coping, and reduced blood pressure. Moreover, the increase in positive emotions and perceived coping was not evident among a comparison sample (N = 2,600) who completed check-ins but did not participate in either of the paced breathing or sham-control conditions. However, their blood pressure declined over time, suggesting that the continual monitoring of one's blood pressure may result in detectable decreases. Our results highlight the importance of designing experiments with appropriately matched control conditions and suggest that changes associated with techniques like paced breathing, in part, may stem from positive incidental features of the technique. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

How Does Surgeons' Autonomic Physiology Vary Intraoperatively?: A Real-time Study of Cardiac Reactivity

OBJECTIVE

To measure the physiological responses of surgical team members under varying levels of intraoperative risk.

BACKGROUND

Measurement of intraoperative physiological responses provides insight into how operation complexity, phase of surgery, and surgeon seniority impact stress.

METHODS

Autonomic nervous system responses (interbeat intervals, IBIs) were measured continuously during different surgical operations of various complexity. The study investigated whether professional role (eg attending surgeon), operative risk (high vs. low), and type of primary operator (attending surgeon vs. resident) impacted IBI reactivity. Physiological synchrony captured the degree of correspondence between individuals' physiological responses at any given time point.

RESULTS

A total of 10,005 observations of IBI reactivity were recorded in 26 participants during 16 high-risk (renal transplant and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy) and low-risk (arteriovenous fistula formation) operations. Attending surgeons showed greater IBI reactivity (faster heart rate) than residents and nurses during high-risk operations and while actively operating (Ps<0.001). Residents showed lower reactivity during high-risk (relative to low-risk) operations (P<0.001) and similar reactivity regardless of whether they or the attending surgeon was operating (P=0.10). Nurses responded similarly during low-risk and high-risk operations (P=0.102) but were more reactive when the resident was operating compared to when the attending surgeon was the primary operator (P<0.001). In high-risk operations, attending surgeons had negative physiological covariation with residents and nurses (P<0.001). In low-risk operations, only attending surgeons and nurses were synchronized (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Attending surgeons' physiological responses were well-calibrated to operative demands. Residents' and nurses' responses were not callibrated to the same extent. This suggests that risk sensitivity is an adaptive response to stress that surgeons acquire.

Effects of wearing medical gowns at different temperatures on the physiological responses of female healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Using medical gowns with high protection against COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) may limit heat exchange, resulting in physiological challenges.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to compare the physiological and neurophysiological responses of female HCWs when using two typical medical gowns at different temperatures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

Twenty healthy female HCWs participated in this study. Participants wore two types of medical gowns: Spunbond gown (SG) and laminate gown (LG). They walked on a treadmill in a controlled climate chamber for 30 minutes at three different temperatures (24, 28, and 32°C). Heart rate (HR), skin surface temperature (ST), clothing surface temperature (CT), ear temperature (ET), blood oxygen percentage (SaO2), galvanic skin response (GSR), and blood pressure were measured before and after walking on a treadmill. The study's results were analyzed using SPSS26.

RESULTS

The study found that LG led to an average increase of 0.575°C in CT compared to SG at the same temperatures (P < 0.03). The average HR increased by 6.5 bpm in LG at 28°C compared to SG at a comfortable temperature (P = 0.01). The average ET in SG and GSR in LG at 32°C increased by 0.39°C and 0.25μS, respectively, compared to the comfortable temperature (P < 0.02).

CONCLUSION

The study recommends maintaining a comfortable temperature range in hospitals to prevent physiological challenges among HCWs wearing medical gowns with high protection against COVID-19. This is important because using LG, compared to SG, at high temperatures can increase HR, ET, CT, and GSR.

Emotion Regulation in Couples Across Adulthood

Intimate relationships are hotbeds of emotion. This article presents key findings and current directions in research on couples' emotion regulation across adulthood as a critical context in which older adults not only maintain functioning but may also outshine younger adults. First, I introduce key concepts, defining qualities (i.e., dynamic, coregulatory, bidirectional, bivalent), and measures (i.e., self-report versus performance-based) of couples' emotion regulation. Second, I highlight a socioemotional turn in our understanding of adult development with the advent of socioemotional selectivity theory. Third, I offer a life-span developmental perspective on emotion regulation in couples (i.e., across infancy, adolescence and young adulthood, midlife, and late life). Finally, I present the idea that emotion regulation may shift from "me to us" across adulthood and discuss how emotion regulation in couples may become more important, better, and increasingly consequential (e.g., for relationship outcomes, well-being, and health) with age. Ideas for future research are then discussed.

The increasing instance of negative emotion reduce the performance of emotion recognition

Introduction

Emotion recognition plays a crucial role in affective computing. Recent studies have demonstrated that the fuzzy boundaries among negative emotions make recognition difficult. However, to the best of our knowledge, no formal study has been conducted thus far to explore the effects of increased negative emotion categories on emotion recognition.

Methods

A dataset of three sessions containing consistent non-negative emotions and increased types of negative emotions was designed and built which consisted the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the electrocardiogram (ECG) recording of 45 participants.

Results

The results revealed that as negative emotion categories increased, the recognition rates decreased by more than 9%. Further analysis depicted that the discriminative features gradually reduced with an increase in the negative emotion types, particularly in the θ, α, and β frequency bands.

Discussion

This study provided new insight into the balance of emotion-inducing stimuli materials.

Proposed mechanisms of hypertension and risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in LGBT communities

Hypertension (HTN), a highly prevalent public issue affecting one in two adults in the United States, has recently been shown to differentially burden individuals belonging to marginalized communities, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities. The minority stress theory posits that a unique combination of marginalization-related psychosocial stressors and coping behaviors may underlie the increased burden of diseases like HTN in LGBT populations. Uncontrolled or poorly managed HTN often leads to the development of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart failure (HF). Despite our understanding of minority stress theory and demonstrated associations between LGBT identities and HTN, the mechanisms whereby psychosocial stress drives HTN in LGBT populations remain unclear. This mini-review discusses the physiological systems governing blood pressure and the epidemiology of HTN across different subgroups of LGBT people. In addition, we propose mechanisms demonstrated in the general population whereby psychological stress has been implicated in elevating blood pressure that may be occurring in LGBT populations. Finally, we discuss the limitations of current studies and methodological frameworks to make suggestions for study designs to better delineate the mechanisms of psychosocial stress-related HTN in LGBT communities.

Multimodal, Idiographic Ambulatory Sensing Will Transform our Understanding of Emotion

Emotions are inherently complex - situated inside the brain while being influenced by conditions inside the body and outside in the world - resulting in substantial variation in experience. Most studies, however, are not designed to sufficiently sample this variation. In this paper, we discuss what could be discovered if emotion were systematically studied within persons 'in the wild', using biologically-triggered experience sampling: a multimodal and deeply idiographic approach to ambulatory sensing that links body and mind across contexts and over time. We outline the rationale for this approach, discuss challenges to its implementation and widespread adoption, and set out opportunities for innovation afforded by emerging technologies. Implementing these innovations will enrich method and theory at the frontier of affective science, propelling the contextually situated study of emotion into the future.

Acute and Chronic Stress Associations With Blood Pressure: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study on an App-Based Platform

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the within- and between-person associations of acute and chronic stress with blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) using an app-based research platform.

METHODS

We examined data from 31,964 adults (aged 18-90 years) in an app-based ecological momentary assessment study that used a research-validated optic sensor to measure BP.

RESULTS

Within-person associations revealed that moments with (versus without) acute stress exposure were associated with higher systolic (SBP; b = 1.54) and diastolic BP (DBP; b = 0.79) and HR ( b = 1.53; p values < .001). During moments with acute stress exposure, higher acute stress severity than usual was associated with higher SBP ( b = 0.26), DBP ( b = 0.09), and HR ( b = 0.40; p values < .05). During moments without acute stress, higher background stress severity than usual was associated with higher BP and HR (SBP: b = 0.87, DBP: b = 0.51, HR: b = 0.69; p values < .001). Between-person associations showed that individuals with more frequent reports of acute stress exposure or higher chronic stress severity had higher SBP, DBP, and HR ( p values < .05). Between-person chronic stress severity moderated within-person physiological responses to stress such that individuals with higher chronic stress severity had higher average BP and HR levels but showed smaller responses to momentary stress.

CONCLUSIONS

Technological advancements with optic sensors allow for large-scale physiological data collection, which provides a better understanding of how stressors of different timescales and severity contribute to momentary BP and HR in daily life.

Age Differences in Physiological Reactivity to Daily Emotional Experiences

How does physiological reactivity to emotional experiences change with age? Previous studies addressing this question have mostly been conducted in laboratory settings during which emotions are induced via pictures, films, or relived memories, raising external validity questions. In the present research, we draw upon two datasets collected using ecological momentary assessment methods (totaling 134,723 daily reports from 14,436 individuals) to examine age differences in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) reactivity to naturally occurring emotional experiences. We first examined how older and younger individuals differ in the prevalence of emotions varying in valence and arousal. On average, people reported experiencing positive emotions (high or low arousal) more than 70% of the time they were asked, and older (vs. younger) individuals tended to report positive emotions more frequently. In terms of physiological reactivity, we found that age was associated with reduced HR and BP reactivity. Some evidence was also found that the magnitude of such age differences may depend on the valence or arousal of the experienced emotion. The present findings have implications for understanding how emotions can contribute to physical health across the lifespan.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s42761-023-00207-z.

A Novel Form Factor For PPG-based Blood Pressure Monitoring

Blood pressure (BP) is one of the four main vital signs in medicine and may be a useful signal for wellness tracking and for user-aware interfaces in human-computer interaction. The current standard for BP measurement uses cuff-based devices that block an artery temporarily to get a single, discrete measurement of BP. Recently, there have been significant efforts to measure correlates of BP continuously and non-invasively from relevant signals like photoplethysmography (PPG), which responds to volumetric changes in arteries due to blood pulsations. In this paper, we explore a novel setup with two points of instrumentation, one on the head and a second on the wrist, for recording PPG and estimating the pulse wave velocity, which is a major correlate of BP, along with other waveform-related features. We prospectively tested the device on 10 subjects who followed a protocol for the deliberate variation of BP while ground truth measurements were taken using a reference cuff-device. Generic absolute BP models, which use the collected data for leave-one-subject-out cross-validation, yielded an error of -0.14 ± 7.3 mmHg for systolic BP (SBP) and -0.21±6.7 mmHg for diastolic BP (DBP), which are within the regulatory limits of 5 ± 8 mmHg. Notably, the correlation between the predicted BPs and the ground truth BPs was higher for SBP (r = 0.74, p < 0.001) than for DBP (r = 0.34, p < 0.001). The results show that the proposed form factor can extract BP-related features that could be used for continuous, cuff-less BP monitoring.

Examining Daily Associations Among Sleep, Stress, and Blood Pressure Across Adulthood

BACKGROUND

Sleep can have consequential effects on people's health and well-being, and these effects may vary among younger and older adults.

PURPOSE

The goal of the present study was to investigate how sleep relates to physiologic and stress responses in daily life across adulthood.

METHODS

We used an Ecological Momentary Assessment method in a large sample of participants (N = 4,359; Mage = 46.75, SD = 12.39; 69.30% male, 29.85% female) who completed morning sleep diaries, reported subjective stress, and recorded their heart rate and blood pressure for 21 days. Sleep was assessed with self-reports of duration, efficiency, and quality.

RESULTS

Using multilevel modeling, between-person analyses showed that sleep duration, efficiency, and quality were negatively related to morning heart rate and stress, such that people who slept longer, more efficiently, or better experienced lower heart rate and stress compared to those who slept shorter, less efficiently, or worse. Within-person analyses showed that sleep duration, efficiency, and quality predicted morning heart rate, blood pressure (though less consistently), and stress. That is, people experienced lower heart, blood pressure, and stress following nights when they slept longer, more efficiently, or better than they typically did. These within-person relationships were moderated by age, such that the effects of better and longer sleep on lower morning heart rate, blood pressure, and stress were stronger among younger than older adults.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that daily variations in sleep show immediate associations with stress and physiologic responses, but these daily variations have a stronger relationship among younger compared to older adults.

Appropriate Circadian-Circasemidian Coupling Protects Blood Pressure from Morning Surge and Promotes Human Resilience and Wellbeing

BACKGROUND

Blood pressure (BP) variability is involved in the appraisal of threat and safety, and can serve as a potential marker of psychological resilience against stress. The relationship between biological rhythms of BP and resilience was cross-sectionally assessed by 7-day/24-hour chronobiologic screening in a rural Japanese community (Tosa), with focus on the 12-hour component and the "circadian-circasemidian coupling" of systolic (S) BP.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Tosa residents (N = 239, 147 women, 23-74 years), free of anti-hypertensive medication, completed 7-day/24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. The circadian-circasemidian coupling was determined individually by computing the difference between the circadian phase and the circasemidian morning-phase of SBP. Participants were classified into three groups: those with a short coupling interval of about 4.5 hours (Group A), those with an intermediate coupling interval of about 6.0 hours (Group B), and those with a long coupling interval of about 8.0 hours (Group C).

RESULTS

Residents of Group B who showed optimal circadian-circasemidian coordination had less pronounced morning and evening SBP surges, as compared to residents of Group A (10.82 vs 14.29 mmHg, P < 0.0001) and Group C (11.86 vs 15.21 mmHg, P < 0.0001), respectively. The incidence of morning or evening SBP surge was less in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.0001) or Group C (P < 0.0001). Group B residents showed highest measures of wellbeing and psychological resilience, assessed by good relation with friends (P < 0.05), life satisfaction (P < 0.05), and subjective happiness (P < 0.05). A disturbed circadian-circasemidian coupling was associated with elevated BP, dyslipidemia, arteriosclerosis and a depressive mood.

CONCLUSION

The circadian-circasemidian coupling of SBP could serve as a new biomarker in clinical practice to guide precision medicine interventions aimed at achieving properly timed rhythms, and thereby resilience and wellbeing.

A Study of Diurnal Cortisol Adaptations in Sleep-Deprived Firefighters During a 72-Hour Work Shift: A Case Series

Seventy percent of US firefighters are overweight or obese. The combination of sleep deprivation and exposure to traumatic events during 72-hour work shifts, commonly employed in emergency responders, is thought to put firefighters at high risk for a variety of stress-related diseases and suicide. Previous studies suggest that the cortisol awakening response (CAR) may be increased in sleep-deprived emergency responders. This case series was designed to investigate the variations in CAR and associations with measurements of salivary cortisol and testosterone, blood glucose and triglyceride, and blood pressure during a 72-hour work shift. Measurements were made at 08:00 and 20:00 in five participants (one normal weight normotensive, three obese hypertensive, and one morbidly obese normotensive male). Data were characterized by the regression statistic R² computed from the relationship between diurnal measurement and concentration, with significance at R²≥0.4. The predominant AM CAR adaptation response consisted of no significant 72-h change (flat response) in salivary cortisol (R²<0.4), found in three of the five participants (60%). The normal-weight participant's 72-h AM CAR adaptation was characterized as incremental (R²=0.91), and markedly different than that of the four obese firefighters who exhibited either a flat response (R²<0.4, 60%) or, in one subject, a decremental response (R²=0.40, 20%). The predominant 72-h PM cortisol adaptation was found to be decremental (R²=0.78-0.97) in three of the five participants (60%), including the normal weight subject (R²=0.78). Diurnal salivary cortisol and testosterone exhibited normal physiological circadian variations (P=0.01, AM>PM and P=0.1, AM>PM, respectively). Blood glucose and triglyceride also showed physiological circadian variations (P=0.02 AM<PM and P=0.002 AM<PM, respectively). Diurnal variation of systolic BP was found to be not significant (P=0.2). The flat AM CAR adaptation exhibited in three of four obese hypertensive firefighters may represent a blunted adaptation response, akin to the responses reported for survivors of suicide. These findings suggest that diurnal variations in salivary cortisol and testosterone, blood glucose, and triglyceride may be useful biochemical markers for identifying stress-related adaptations to 72-hour work shifts. Future studies should be designed to correlate diurnal variations in biomarkers with the risk of developing stress-related diseases and suicide in firefighters.

Evidence for cultural differences in affect during mother-infant interactions

Maternal care is considered a universal and even cross-species set of typical behaviors, which are necessary to determine the social development of children. In humans, most research on mother-infant bonding is based on Western cultures and conducted in European and American countries. Thus, it is still unknown which aspects of mother-infant behaviors are universal and which vary with culture. Here we test whether typical mother-infant behaviors of affect-communication and affect-regulation are equally represented during spontaneous interaction in Palestinian-Arab and Jewish cultures. 30 Palestinian-Arab and 43 Jewish mother-infant dyads were recruited and videotaped. Using AffectRegulation Coding System (ARCS), we behaviorally analyzed the second-by-second display of valence and arousal in each participant and calculated the dynamic patterns of affect co-regulation. The results show that Palestinian-Arab infants express more positive valence than Jewish infants and that Palestinian-Arab mothers express higher arousal compared to Jewish mothers. Moreover, we found culturally-distinct strategies to regulate the infant: increased arousal in Palestinian-Arab dyads and increased mutual affective match in Jewish dyads. Such cross-cultural differences in affect indicate that basic features of emotion that are often considered universal are differentially represented in different cultures. Affect communication and regulation patterns can be transmitted across generations in early-life socialization with caregivers.

Spontaneously hypertensive rats manifest deficits in emotional response to 22-kHz and 50-kHz ultrasonic playback

Many symptoms used routinely for human psychiatric diagnosis cannot be directly observed in animals which cannot describe their internal states. However, the ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) rodents use to communicate their emotional states can be measured. USV have therefore become a particularly useful tool in brain disease models. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are considered an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. However, the specifics of SHR's behavior have not been fully described and there is very little data on their USV. Recently, we developed a communication model, in which Wistar rats are exposed to pre-recorded playbacks of aversive (22-kHz) or appetitive (50-kHz) USV, and their vocal responses depend on the extent of prior fear conditioning (0, 1, 6 or 10 shocks). Here, we investigated SHR's behavior and heart rate (HR) in our communication model, in comparison to Wistar rats employed as controls. In general, SHR emitted typical USV categories, however, they contained more short 22-kHz and less 50-kHz USV overall. Moreover, fewer SHR, in comparison with Wistar rats, emitted long 22-kHz USV after fear conditioning. SHR did not show a 50-kHz playback-induced HR increase, while they showed a profound 22-kHz playback-induced HR decrease. Finally, the number of previously delivered conditioning shocks appeared to have no effect on the investigated vocal, locomotor and HR responses of SHR. The phenomena observed in SHR are potentially attributable to deficits in emotional perception and processing. A lower number of 50-kHz USV emitted by SHR may reflect observations of speech impairments in human patients and further supports the usefulness of SHR to model ADHD and schizophrenia.

Advancing the Study of Resilience to Daily Stressors

Historically, studies of childhood and adult resilience have typically focused on adaptation to chronic life adversities, such as poverty and maltreatment, or isolated and potentially traumatic events, such as bereavement and serious illness. Here, we present a complementary view and suggest that stressors experienced in daily life may also forecast individual health and well-being. We argue that daily process approaches that incorporate intensive sampling of individuals in natural settings can provide powerful insights into unfolding adaptational processes. In making this argument, we review studies that link intraindividual dynamics with diverse health-related phenomena. Findings from this research provide support for a multiple-levels-analysis perspective that embraces greater unity in pivotal resilience constructs invoked across childhood and adult literatures. Drawing on insights and principles derived from life-span theory, we conclude by outlining promising directions for future work and considering their broader implications for the field of resilience.

Self-monitoring of psychological stress-induced blood pressure in daily life using a wearable watch-type oscillometric device in working individuals with hypertension

This study investigated psychological stress-induced blood pressure (BP) elevation according to self-measured data obtained by a wearable watch-type oscillometric device for multiple days in 50 working hypertension patients (mean ± SD age: 60.5 ± 8.9 years; 92.0% men; 96% treated for hypertension). Participants were asked to self-measure their BPs at five predetermined times as well as at any additional time points at their own discretion under ambulatory conditions for a maximum of 7 days. At the time of each BP measurement, participants self-reported their location, emotion, and degree of stress. A total of 1220 BP readings with self-reported situational information were obtained from 50 participants over 5.5 ± 1.2 days. Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) measured during moments of self-reported negative emotions (i.e., anger, tension, anxiety, or sadness) were significantly higher (5.0 ± 1.3 and 2.0 ± 0.8 mmHg, both p < 0.05) than those during moments of self-reported positive emotions (i.e., happiness or calm). SBP/DBP were significantly increased under a moderate or high degree of stress by [4.5 ± 1.1]/[2.5 ± 0.7] and [10.2 ± 3.0]/[4.7 ± 1.8] mmHg, respectively. As a result, it was estimated that SBP/DBP increased 15.2/8.5 mmHg in the presence of highly stressful negative emotions. In conclusion, self-measurement of BP monitoring with a wearable device for multiple days is a feasible method to detect daily stress-induced BP elevation in working adults.

Relationship between Subjective and Biological Responses to Comfortable and Uncomfortable Sounds

Various kinds of biological sensors are now embedded in wearable devices and data on human biological information have recently become more widespread. Among various environmental stressors, sound has emotional and biological impacts on humans, and it is worthwhile to investigate the relationship between the subjective impressions of and biological responses to such sounds. In this study, the relationship between subjective and biological responses to acoustic stimuli with two contrasting kinds of sounds, a murmuring river sound and white noise, was investigated. The subjective and biological responses were measured during the presentation of the sounds. Compared with the murmuring river sound, the white noise had a significantly decreased EEG-related index of α-EEG and HRV-related index of SD2/SD1. The correlation between each index of subjective and biological responses indicated that α-EEG was highly correlated with the results of subjective evaluation. However, based on a more detailed analysis with clustering, some subjects showed different biological responses in each trial since they felt the sound was powerful when listening to the murmuring river sound, as well as feeling that it was beautiful. It was suggested that biological responses to sound exposure may be affected by the impression of the sound, which varies by individual.

Comparing daily physiological and psychological benefits of gratitude and optimism using a digital platform

Gratitude and optimism are positive psychological dispositions associated with beneficial outcomes. To examine their associations with physiological and psychological experiences in daily life, we examined data from an Ecological Momentary Assessment study (N = 4,825), including blood pressure, heart rate, and reports of stress, health behaviors, and thoughts. Trait gratitude and trait optimism both predicted lower heart rate and blood pressure, better sleep quality, more exercise, less stress, more positive expectations and reflections, and greater feelings of appreciation toward others. However, gratitude and optimism were not completely overlapping constructs: Gratitude was a stronger predictor of felt appreciation toward others and pleasantness when reflecting on the best part of the day, whereas optimism was a stronger predictor of sleep quality, lower stress, and lower unpleasantness when reflecting on the worst part of the day. These associations reveal both similar and differential influences of positive dispositions on psychological and physiological outcomes that provide insight into health consequences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).