Social support and cardiovascular responding to laboratory stress: Moderating effects of gender role identification,sex, and type of support |
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Authors: | Sonja van Well Annemarie M Kolk |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands s.m.vanwell@uva.nl;3. Department of Clinical Psychology , University of Amsterdam , Roetersstraat 15, 1018 WB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | The objective of the present study was to examine moderating effects of gender role identification, sex, and type of support on the buffering role of social support on cardiovascular responses. We hypothesized that (a) gender role identification, more than sex, would moderate the effect of social support and (b) to obtain optimal attenuating effects of social support, type of support provided should match type of support preferred in terms of one's gender role identification. That is, feminine participants would benefit more from relatively direct support, whereas masculine participants would benefit more from indirect support. Healthy participants (N = 100) performed a psychological stressor in the presence of a friend, after mental activation of a friend, or alone. Results revealed no moderating effects of gender role identification whether or not in combination with type of support. Nevertheless, results demonstrated an attenuating effect of mental support on heart rate and cardiac output in men. It is concluded that pathways linking social relationships and health may differ between women and men. |
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Keywords: | Social support internal representations cardiovascular responding hemodynamic profile sex gender role identification |
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