Week 5 RF-Stress Flashcards
Define Stress
A cognitive perception of uncontrollability and/or unpredictability that is expressed in a physiological and behavioural response.
Define a Stressor
An unpredictable and/or uncontrollable stimulus.
Define a Stress Response
The array of physiological responses activated to help the body return to its normal state.
What is the difference between General stress or Chronic stress?
General stress=healthy
Chronic stress=unhealthy leading to depletion in resources
What is the Menstrual Cycle?
-There are approximately 36 reproductive years. (Harlow et al., 2000)
-Cycle length is usually 28 days with a range of 25-34 days. (Mihm et al.,
2011)
-Menses duration is usually 3-6 days with a range of 2-12 days. Average
blood loss during this is 33.2ml. (Mihm et al., 2011)
Four key phases:
* Menses
* Follicular phase
* Luteal phase
* Premenstrual
What did Goldstein et al., (2010) find in the link between Menstrual Cycle and Stress?
-12 females compared to males, matched-pairs
-Researchers measures the brain’s stress response to stressful and neutral images
-Females scanned twice (in separate phases: one in the follicular phase and one in the luteal phase)
-Findings suggest that sex differences in stress response circuitry are hormonally regulated, and demonstrate that females have a natural hormonal capacity to regulate the stress response that differs from males
-Response to stressor different in different phases of menstrual cycle
What did Montero-López et al., (2018) find in the link between the Menstrual Cycle and Stress?
-42 women (24 FP; 18 LP)
-2 lab visits (stress [TSST] and non-stress) with conditions being balanced
-TSST (e.g., in 10 minutes you’ll do public speaking (not actually))
-5 saliva samples in each session were taken to measure cortisol levels and subjective stress ratings were taken
-Menstrual cycle phase influenced cortisol responses to stress, with higher reactivity in the LP (i.e., when progesterone is high and oestrogen is relatively low)
What evidence is there to show the link between the Menstrual cycle and Stress when hormonal contraception was considered?
-Those using HC have dysregulation of the stress response (Lewis et al., 2019)
-Compared to NC (Naturally Cycling) women, HC women have shown blunted stress hormone responses (Nielsen et al., 2013) and a blunted stress hormone response is not adaptive
-Further evidencing this, Jentsch and colleagues (2022) found that for HC users, the stress response was in some cases absent compared to NC individuals and males
-Research is yet to examine the different contraception methods rather than as a whole
What methods did Warren et al. (2021) conduct when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 1
-Participants (n = 28; 15 HC, 13 NC) were either NC or HC (between subject factor: hormonal status)
-Attended two lab-based sessions corresponding with their FP and LP (within factor: cycle phase [NC] or time [HC])
-Participants completed a mock alcohol taste-test, in addition to pre- and post-consumption measures of craving, anxiety, stress, and mood.
What did Warren et al. (2021) find when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 1
-A significant effect of cycle phase was found on alcohol craving (p = .019): craving was higher during the FP compared to the LP for NC participants, with HC participants showing no difference across sessions
-There was no effect of phase or status on alcohol consumption, stress, or mood (ps > .05)
-LP=luteal phase (interesting as stress is higher)
-FP=follicular phase
What methods did Warren et al. (2021) conduct when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 2
-Participants (n = 262; 144 HC, 118 NC) were either NC or HC (between subject factor)
-Completed an online study assessing menstrual cycle phase, alcohol use, craving, impulsivity, and stress
-Quite a few NC didn’t understand instructions so couldn’t look at differences in menstrual phases
What did Warren et al. (2021) find when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 2
-Regression analyses showed that age, craving, impulsivity and stress were significantly associated with alcohol consumption for NC participants (ps < .05)
-However, only age and craving were associated with consumption for the HC participants (ps < .001).
-A large proportion of sample were students (may tend to drink more for socials, special occasions therefore menstrual phase does not matter in influence drinking alcohol)
What methods did Warren et al. (2021) conduct when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 3
-Participants (n = 378; 221 HC, 157 NC; FP = 85; LP = 72)
-Completed an online study assessing: contraceptive use; menstrual cycle; alcohol use; drinking motives; craving; impulsivity; stress; mood; menstrual attitudes; and menstrual symptoms.
-Did a systematic review to use the best methods possible
What did Warren et al. (2021) find when investigating the link between the Menstrual cycle, Stress and Alcohol? STUDY 3
-Regression analyses showed that stress was significantly associated with alcohol consumption for NC participants in the LP (p = .001) but not the FP
-However, only impulsivity and craving were associated with consumption for the HC participants (ps < .003)
-Stress was not associated with alcohol consumption in the HC group
What is the Overall Summary?
-The FP seems to have a protective role over stress responses, which is likely due to higher oestrogen levels compared to other phases
-Stressful events in the LP lead to increased alcohol consumption
-For the HC group, stress was not associated with alcohol use which could be a result of HC individuals not having the fluctuations in hormones and as such not experiencing fluctuations in stress responses
