Abstract

ESPIN, Laura; SALVADOR, Alicia  and  GOMEZ-AMOR, Jesús. Autonomic, hormonal, and subjective responses to a modified version of the TSST: a pilot study. Anal. Psicol. [online]. 2021, vol.37, n.3, pp.424-431.  Epub June 13, 2022. ISSN 1695-2294.  https://dx.doi.org/10.6018/analesps.382451.

The aim of this research was to study autonomic, hormonal, and subjective responses to a modified version of an extensively employed laboratory stressor, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), in a sample of 38 young university students (11 men and 27 women, 11 in the luteal phase and 16 in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle). Heart rate and Electrodermal Activity were recorded during the entire experimental session. The hormonal response was evaluated by means of salivary cortisol levels, and state anxiety was assessed before and after the task. The speech phase of the TSST elicited the highest heart rate and frequency of non-specific responses, showing significant differences compared to the habituation and recovery phases. However, the cortisol and subjective responses to stress were not statistically significant. Men showed higher frequency of non-specific responses and greater skin conductance levels than both groups of women, as well as higher cortisol concentrations, but only in comparison with women in the luteal phase. Our results provide evidence that this modified version of the TSST elicits a different pattern of psychophysiological responses, including a lack of cortisol response to stress.

Keywords : Stress; Cortisol; Sex Differences; Autonomic Activity; Anxiety.

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