Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stress and Cardiovascular Reactivity

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Psychocardiology

  • 2048 Accesses

Abstract

The response of the cardiovascular system to stressful situations has long been considered to have implications for health outcomes. Both exaggerated and diminished cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stressors have serious consequences for health. This chapter will compare and discuss research on both high and low cardiovascular responses to psychological stress. Exaggerated reactions are associated with the development of hypertension, markers of systemic atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease. Blunted or low reactivity is related to depression, obesity, and a range of addictions. It has been proposed that an interaction between genetics and the environment contributes to individuals’ reactivity to stress. The objective of this chapter is to explore cutting-edge research on the pathways to the development of disease via alterations in stress reactivity. It will also highlight some of the key environmental, social, and mechanistic pathways from high and low cardiovascular reactivity to health and ill health in later life and potential research and clinical implications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 599.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • al’Absi, M. (2006). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical responses to psychological stress and risk for smoking relapse. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 59(3), 218–227.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • al’Absi, M., Hatsukami, D., & Davis, G. L. (2005). Attenuated adrenocorticotropic responses to psychological stress are associated with early smoking relapse. Psychopharmacology, 181(1), 107–117.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bjorntorp, P. (1996). Behavior and metabolic disease. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 3(4), 285–302.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce, W. T., & Chesterman, E. (1990). Life events, social support, and cardiovascular reactivity in adolescence. Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 11, 105–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkmann, K., Schupbach, L., Joye, I. A., & Gendolla, G. H. (2009). Anhedonia and effort mobilization in dysphoria: Reduced cardiovascular response to reward and punishment. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 74(3), 250–258. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2009.09.009. [pii]: S0167-8760(09)00229-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brydon, L. (2011). Adiposity, leptin and stress reactivity in humans. Biological Psychology, 86(2), 114–120. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.02.010. [pii]: S0301-0511(10)00066-9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Brydon, L., O’Donnell, K., Wright, C. E., Wawrzyniak, A. J., Wardle, J., & Steptoe, A. (2008). Circulating leptin and stress-induced cardiovascular activity in humans. Obesity (Silver Spring), 16(12), 2642–2647. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.415. [pii] oby2008415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bylsma, L. M., Morris, B. H., & Rottenberg, J. (2008). A meta-analysis of emotional reactivity in major depressive disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(4), 676–691.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cacioppo, J. T., Burleson, M. H., Poehlmann, K. M., Malarkey, W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., Berntson, G. G., et al. (2000). Autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to mild psychological stressors: Effects of chronic stress on older women. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 22, 140–148.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carney, R. M., Rich, M. W., teVelde, A., Saini, J., Clark, K., & Freedland, K. E. (1988). The relationship between heart rate, heart rate variability and depression in patients with coronary artery disease. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 32(2), 159–164.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., & Sheffield, D. (1998). Social psychophysiology, social circumstances, and health. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 20, 333–337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Ebrahim, S., Tilling, K., Macleod, J., & Smith, G. D. (2002). Admissions for myocardial infarction and World Cup football: Database survey. BMJ, 325(7378), 1439–1442.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Ring, C., Hunt, K., Ford, G., & Macintyre, S. (2003). Blood pressure reactions to stress and the prediction of future blood pressure: Effects of sex, age, and socioeconomic position. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 1058–1064. doi:10.1097/01.PSY.0000097330.58739.26.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Phillips, A. C., Ring, C., Der, G., & Hunt, K. (2005). Life events and hemodynamic stress reactivity in the middle-aged and elderly. Psychophysiology, 42, 269–276.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Phillips, A. C., Hunt, K., & Der, G. (2007). Symptoms of depression and cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress: Evidence from a population study. Biological Psychology, 75, 68–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Phillips, A. C., & Der, G. (2008). Body mass index, abdominal adiposity, obesity, and cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress in a large community sample. Psychosomatic Medicine, 70(6), 653–660. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31817b9382. [pii]: PSY.0b013e31817b9382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Phillips, A. C., Der, G., Hunt, K., & Benzeval, M. (2011). Blood pressure reactions to acute mental stress and future blood pressure status: Data from the 12-year follow-up of the West of Scotland study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 73(9), 737–742. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182359808. [pii]: PSY.0b013e3182359808.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll, D., Ginty, A. T., Der, G., Hunt, K., Benzeval, M., & Phillips, A. C. (2012). Increased blood pressure reactions to acute mental stress are associated with 16-year cardiovascular disease mortality. Psychophysiology, 49(10), 1444–1448. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01463.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chida, Y., & Hamer, M. (2008). Chronic psychosocial factors and acute physiological responses to laboratory-induced stress in healthy populations: A quantitative review of 30 years of investigations. Psychological Bulletin, 134(6), 829–885.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chida, Y., & Steptoe, A. (2010). Greater cardiovascular responses to laboratory mental stress are associated with poor subsequent cardiovascular risk status: A meta-analysis of prospective evidence. Hypertension, 55(4), 1026–1032. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.146621. [pii] HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.146621.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M. C., Twamley, E. W., Hamilton, N. A., & Swan, P. D. (1999). Body fat distribution and hemodynamic stress responses in premenopausal obese women: A preliminary study. Health Psychology, 18(6), 625–633.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Boer, D., Ring, C., & Carroll, D. (2006). Time course and mechanisms of hemoconcentration in response to mental stress. Biological Psychology, 72(3), 318–324.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Rooij, S. R., & Roseboom, T. J. (2010). Further evidence for an association between self-reported health and cardiovascular as well as cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress. Psychophysiology, 47(6), 1172–1175. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01023.x. [pii]: PSYP1023.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Rooij, S. R., Schene, A. H., Phillips, D. I., & Roseboom, T. J. (2010). Depression and anxiety: Associations with biological and perceived stress reactivity to a psychological stress protocol in a middle-aged population. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 35(6), 866–877. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.11.011. [pii]: S0306-4530(09)00354-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dhabhar, F. S. (2002). Stress-induced augmentation of immune function – The role of stress hormones, leukocyte trafficking, and cytokines. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 16(6), 785–798.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginty, A. T., & Conklin, S. M. (2011). High perceived stress in relation to life events is associated with blunted cardiac reactivity. Biological Psychology, 86(3), 383–385. doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.01.002. [pii]: S0301-0511(11)00005-6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginty, A. T., Phillips, A. C., Higgs, S., Heaney, J. L., & Carroll, D. (2011). Disordered eating behaviour is associated with blunted cortisol and cardiovascular reactions to acute psychological stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.09.004. [pii]: S0306-4530(11)00274-5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Girdler, S. S., Jamner, L. D., Jarvik, M., Soles, J. R., & Shapiro, D. (1997). Smoking status and nicotine administration differentially modify hemodynamic stress reactivity in men and women. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59(3), 294–306.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glahn, D. C., Lovallo, W. R., & Fox, P. T. (2007). Reduced amygdala activation in young adults at high risk of alcoholism: Studies from the Oklahoma family health patterns project. Biological Psychiatry, 61(11), 1306–1309.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hamer, M., Boutcher, Y. N., & Boutcher, S. H. (2007). Fatness is related to blunted vascular stress responsivity, independent of cardiorespiratory fitness in normal and overweight men. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 63(3), 251–257.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heaney, J. L., Ginty, A. T., Carroll, D., & Phillips, A. C. (2011). Preliminary evidence that exercise dependence is associated with blunted cardiac and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 79(2), 323–329. doi:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2010.11.010. [pii]: S0167-8760(10)00756-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hughes, B. M. (2007). Social support in ordinary life and laboratory measures of cardiovascular reactivity: Gender differences in habituation-sensitization. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 34(2), 166–176. doi:10.1080/08836610701566860.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Idler, E. L., & Benyamini, Y. (1997). Self-rated health and mortality: A review of twenty-seven community studies. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 38(1), 21–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, D. W., Tuomisto, M. T., & Patching, G. R. (2008). The relationship between cardiac reactivity in the laboratory and in real life. Health Psychology, 27(1), 34–42. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.27.1.34. [pii]: 2008-00647-006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kibler, J. L., & Ma, M. (2004). Depressive symptoms and cardiovascular reactivity to laboratory behavioral stress. International Journal of Behavioural Medicine, 11, 81–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovallo, W. R. (2005). Cardiovascular reactivity: Mechanisms and pathways to cardiovascular disease. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 58, 119–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lovallo, W. R. (2006). Cortisol secretion patterns in addiction and addiction risk. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 59(3), 195–202.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lovallo, W. R., & Wilson, M. F. (1992). The role of cardiovascular reactivity in hypertension risk. In J. R. Turner, A. Sherwood, & K. C. Light (Eds.), Individual differences in cardiovascular response to stress. New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovallo, W. R., Dickensheets, S. L., Myers, D. A., Thomas, T. L., & Nixon, S. J. (2000). Blunted stress cortisol response in abstinent alcoholic and polysubstance-abusing men. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 24(5), 651–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lovallo, W. R., Farag, N. H., Sorocco, K. H., Cohoon, A. J., & Vincent, A. S. (2012). Lifetime adversity leads to blunted stress axis reactivity: Studies from the Oklahoma family health patterns project. Biological Psychiatry, 71(4), 344–349. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.10.018. [pii]: S0006-3223(11)00999-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. W., Everson, S. A., Kaplan, G. A., Salonen, R., & Salonen, J. T. (1998). Does low socioeconomic status potentiate the effects of heightened cardiovascular responses to stress on the progression of carotid atherosclerosis? American Journal of Public Health, 88(3), 389–394. doi:10.2105/AGPH.88.3.389.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Maier, S. F., & Watkins, L. R. (1998). Cytokines for psychologists: Implications of bidirectional immune-to-brain communication for understanding behaviour, mood and cognition. Psychological Review, 105, 83–107.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, K. A., Gump, B. B., Block, D. R., & Allen, M. T. (1997). Does background stress heighten or dampen children’s cardiovascular responses to acute stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59, 488–496.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McFarland, B. R., & Klein, D. N. (2009). Emotional reactivity in depression: Diminished responsiveness to anticipated reward but not to anticipated punishment or to nonreward or avoidance. Depression and Anxiety, 26(2), 117–122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, H. B., Vanyukov, M., Yao, J. K., & Kirillova, G. P. (1999). Salivary cortisol responses in prepubertal boys: The effects of parental substance abuse and association with drug use behavior during adolescence. Biological Psychiatry, 45(10), 1293–1299.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Musante, L., Treiber, F. A., Kapuku, G., Moore, D., Davis, H., & Strong, W. B. (2000). The effects of life events on cardiovascular reactivity to behavioural stressors as a function of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and sex. Psychosomatic Medicine, 62, 760–767.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Obrist, P. (1981). Cardiovascular psychophysiology: A perspective. New York: Plenum.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Panknin, T. L., Dickensheets, S. L., Nixon, S. J., & Lovallo, W. R. (2002). Attenuated heart rate responses to public speaking in individuals with alcohol dependence. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 26(6), 841–847.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Carroll, D., Ring, C., Sweeting, H., & West, P. (2005). Life events and acute cardiovascular reactions to mental stress: A cohort study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 67, 384–392.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Carroll, D., Burns, V. E., & Drayson, M. (2009a). Cardiovascular activity and the antibody response to vaccination. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 67(1), 37–43. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.12.002. [pii]: S0022-3999(08)00580-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Der, G., & Carroll, D. (2009b). Self-reported health and cardiovascular reactions to psychological stress in a large community sample: Cross-sectional and prospective associations. Psychophysiology, 46(5), 1020–1027. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00843.x. [pii]: PSYP843.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Der, G., Hunt, K., & Carroll, D. (2009c). Haemodynamic reactions to acute psychological stress and smoking status in a large community sample. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 73, 273–278.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Hunt, K., Der, G., & Carroll, D. (2011). Blunted cardiac reactions to acute psychological stress predict symptoms of depression five years later: Evidence from a large community study. Psychophysiology, 48(1), 142–148. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01045.x. [pii]: PSYP1045.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, A. C., Roseboom, T. J., Carroll, D., & de Rooij, S. R. (2012). Cardiovascular and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress and adiposity: Cross-sectional and prospective associations in the Dutch Famine Birth Cohort Study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 74(7), 699–710. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e31825e3b91. [pii]: PSY.0b013e31825e3b91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pomerleau, O. F., Fertig, J. B., Seyler, L. E., & Jaffe, J. (1983). Neuroendocrine reactivity to nicotine in smokers. Psychopharmacology, 81(1), 61–67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quilliot, D., Bohme, P., Zannad, F., & Ziegler, O. (2008). Sympathetic-leptin relationship in obesity: Effect of weight loss. Metabolism, 57(4), 555–562. doi:10.1016/j.metabol.2007.11.020. [pii]: S0026-0495(07)00414-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, M. P., Steptoe, A., & Kirschbaum, C. (1994). Association between smoking status and cardiovascular and cortisol stress responsivity in healthy young men. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1(3), 264–283.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roy, M. P., Steptoe, A., & Kirschbaum, C. (1998). Life events and social support as moderators of individual differences in cardiovascular and cortisol reactivity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75, 1273–1281.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sheffield, D., Smith, G. D., Carroll, D., Shipley, M. J., & Marmot, M. G. (1997). The effects of recent food, alcohol, and tobacco intake and the temporal scheduling of testing on cardiovascular activity at rest and during psychological stress. Psychophysiology, 34(2), 204–212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sherwood, A., Allen, M. T., Obrist, P. A., & Langer, A. W. (1986). Evaluation of beta-adrenergic influences on cardiovascular and metabolic adjustments to physical and psychological stress. Psychophysiology, 23(1), 89–104.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sorocco, K. H., Lovallo, W. R., Vincent, A. S., & Collins, F. L. (2006). Blunted hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis responsivity to stress in persons with a family history of alcoholism. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 59(3), 210–217.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Steptoe, A., & Wardle, J. (2005). Cardiovascular stress responsivity, body mass and abdominal adiposity. International Journal of Obesity, 29(11), 1329–1337.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Straneva, P., Hinderliter, A., Wells, E., Lenahan, H., & Girdler, S. (2000). Smoking, oral contraceptives, and cardiovascular reactivity to stress. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 95(1), 78–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tentolouris, N., Tsigos, C., Perea, D., Koukou, E., Kyriaki, D., Kitsou, E., et al. (2003). Differential effects of high-fat and high-carbohydrate isoenergetic meals on cardiac autonomic nervous system activity in lean and obese women. Metabolism, 52(11), 1426–1432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Treiber, F. A., Kamarck, T., Schneiderman, N., Sheffield, D., Kapuku, G., & Taylor, T. (2003). Cardiovascular reactivity and development of preclinical and clinical disease states. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 46–62.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trickett, P. K., Gordis, E., Peckins, M. K., & Susman, E. J. (2014). Stress reactivity in maltreated and comparison male and female young adolescents. Child Maltreatment, 19(1), 27–37. doi:10.1177/1077559513520466. [pii]: 1077559513520466.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Waldstein, S. R., Burns, H. O., Toth, M. J., & Poehlman, E. T. (1999). Cardiovascular reactivity and central adiposity in older African Americans. Health Psychology, 18(3), 221–228.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Welle, S., Lilavivat, U., & Campbell, R. G. (1981). Thermic effect of feeding in man: Increased plasma norepinephrine levels following glucose but not protein or fat consumption. Metabolism, 30(10), 953–958.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • WHO. (1997). Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Geneva: World Health Organisation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winzer, A., Ring, C., Carroll, D., Willemsen, G., Drayson, M., & Kendall, M. (1999). Secretory immunoglobulin A and cardiovascular reactions to mental arithmetic, cold pressor, and exercise: Effects of beta-adrenergic blockade. Psychophysiology, 36(5), 591–601. doi:10.1111/1469-8986.3650591.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wulsin, L. R., Vaillant, G. E., & Wells, V. E. (1999). A systematic review of the mortality of depression. Psychosomatic Medicine, 61(1), 6–17.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • York, K. M., Hassan, M., Li, Q., Li, H., Fillingim, R. B., & Sheps, D. S. (2007). Coronary artery disease and depression: Patients with more depressive symptoms have lower cardiovascular reactivity during laboratory-induced mental stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 69(6), 521–528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Psychologist and Reader in Behavioural Medicine, School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK

    Anna C. Phillips

Authors
  1. Anna C. Phillips
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anna C. Phillips .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Cardiovascular Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Marlies E. Alvarenga

  2. ANU Medical School, Australia National University, Canberra, Aust Capital Terr, Australia

    Don Byrne

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this entry

Cite this entry

Phillips, A.C. (2016). Stress and Cardiovascular Reactivity. In: Alvarenga, M., Byrne, D. (eds) Handbook of Psychocardiology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-206-7_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation