Aging and Cardiovascular Reactivity to Stress: Longitudinal Evidence for Changes in Stress Reactivity

Although age differences in cardiovascular function are well documented, little research has provided longitudinal evidence for age-related changes in cardiovascular reactivity to stress. In this study, the authors report such data from a follow-up of their prior work ( B. N. Uchino, D. Uno, J. Holt...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology and aging 2005-03, Vol.20 (1), p.134-143
Main Authors: Uchino, Bert N, Holt-Lunstad, Julianne, Bloor, Lindsey E, Campo, Rebecca A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult. Elderly
Age Differences
Aged
Aging
Aging - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Blood pressure
Cardiology
Cardiovascular Reactivity
Cardiovascular response
Developmental psychology
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heart Rate - physiology
Human
Humans
Longitudinal studies
Male
Middle Aged
Physiological Aging
Physiological Correlates
Physiological reactivity
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Stress
Stress Reactions
Stress, Psychological - psychology
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Summary:Although age differences in cardiovascular function are well documented, little research has provided longitudinal evidence for age-related changes in cardiovascular reactivity to stress. In this study, the authors report such data from a follow-up of their prior work ( B. N. Uchino, D. Uno, J. Holt-Lunstad, & J. B. Flinders, 1999 ) with participants between the ages of 30 to 70 ( n = 108, mean follow-up = 10 months, range = 7 to 16 months). Results revealed longitudinal evidence for an age-related increase in systolic blood-pressure reactivity and parasympathetic withdrawal to acute stress. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the increased cardiovascular disease risk with age, as well as the links between aging, emotions, and physiology.
ISSN:0882-7974
1939-1498
DOI:10.1037/0882-7974.20.1.134