"I'm Ready This Time": Investigating physiological and emotional habituation to repetitive social stress

Authors

Annelise A. Madison, The Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow
M. Rosie Shrout, Purdue UniversityFollow
Stephanie J. Wilson, Southern Methodist University
Megan E. Renna, University of Southern MississippiFollow
Juan Peng, The Ohio State University
Rebecca Andridge, The Ohio State University
Lisa M. Jaremka, University of Delaware
Christopher P. Fagundes, Rice University
Martha A. Belury, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
William B. Malarkey, The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser, The Ohio State University College of MedicineFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-26-2025

School

Psychology

Abstract

Background

Repetitive stress is at the nexus of acute and chronic stress, and there is limited knowledge about how physiological and emotional responses change with repeated exposure. Purpose

We examined stress-related biomarkers and emotional responses to repeated social stressors, and we tested behavioral moderators. Methods

In Study 1, 42 adults completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) twice, 4 months apart. Serum inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]), blood pressure, pulse, salivary cortisol, and state-level anxiety were measured surrounding the stressor. In Study 2, 84 married individuals completed two 20-minute discussions of contentious topics in the marriage, 1 month apart. Serum IL-6, TNF-α, blood pressure, pulse, salivary cortisol, and state affect were collected surrounding the conflict. Trained experimenters rated positive and negative behavior during the conflict. Results

In the repetitive Trier paradigm, participants reported less anxiety (Ps = .048) and had higher anticipatory IL-6 responses (P = .014) at Visit 2, compared to Visit 1. In the repetitive marital conflict paradigm, participants had lower positive affect (P = .0004), as well as systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = .009), diastolic blood pressure (P = .0003), and pulse (P = .027) habituation at the second visit. Objectively rated negative conflict behavior interacted with visit to predict TNF-α (P = .025) and SBP (P = .037) responses. Positive conflict behavior did not moderate outcomes (Ps > .06). Conclusions

Stress-sensitive systems can habituate or sensitize to even nontraumatic, repetitive social stressors. Patterns of habituation or sensitization may vary by time between repetition, type of social stressor, stress-sensitive system, and participant behavior.

Publication Title

Social and Behavioral Sciences: Psychology

Volume

59

Issue

1

Recommended Citation

Madison, A. A., Shrout, M. R., Wilson, S. J., Renna, M. E., Peng, J., Andridge, R., Jaremka, L. M., Fagundes, C. P., Belury, M. A., Malarkey, W. B., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2025). "I'm Ready This Time": Investigating physiological and emotional habituation to repetitive social stress. Social and Behavioral Sciences: Psychology, 59(1).
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/21916