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Article
The Interaction Between Physical and Psychosocial Stressors
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Esraa S. Abdelall, Iowa State University and Jordan University of Science and Technology
  • Zoe Eagle, Iowa State University
  • Tor Finseth, Iowa State University
  • Ahmad A. Mumani, Iowa State University and Yarmouk University
  • Zhonglun Wang, Iowa State University
  • Michael C. Dorneich, Iowa State University
  • Richard T. Stone, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
5-14-2020
DOI
10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00063
Abstract

Do physical and psychosocial stressors interact to increase stress in ways not explainable by the stressors alone? A preliminary study compared participants’ stress response while subjected to a physical stressor (reduced or full physical load) and a predetermined social stressor (confronted by calm or aggressive behavior). Salivary cortisol samples measured endocrine stress. Heart rate variability (HRV) and electrodermal activity (EDA) measured autonomic stress. Perceived stress was measured via discomfort and stress state surveys. Participants with a heavier load reported increased distress and discomfort. Encountering an aggressive individual increased endocrine stress, distress levels, and perceived discomfort. Higher autonomic stress and discomfort were found in participants with heavier physical load and aggressive individuals. The results suggest a relationship where physical load increases the stressfulness of aggressive behavior in ways not explainable by the effects of the stressors alone. Future research is needed to confirm this investigation’s findings.

Comments

This article is published as Abdelall, Esraa S., Zoe Eagle, Tor Finseth, Ahmad A. Mumani, Zhonglun Wang, Michael C. Dorneich, and Richard T. Stone. "The Interaction Between Physical and Psychosocial Stressors." Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2020). DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00063. Posted with permission.

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
Copyright Owner
The Author(s)
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Esraa S. Abdelall, Zoe Eagle, Tor Finseth, Ahmad A. Mumani, et al.. "The Interaction Between Physical and Psychosocial Stressors" Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience Vol. 14 (2020) p. 63
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael_dorneich/174/