Physiological reactivity during autobiographical narratives in older adults: the roles of depression and anxiety

• Published in: Aging & mental health Vol. 19; no. 8; pp. 689 - 697
• Main Authors: Robertson, Sarah M.C., Swickert, Rhonda J., Connelly, Kathryn, Galizio, Ann
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Routledge 03.08.2015
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ageing; aging; Aging - psychology; Anxiety; Anxiety - physiopathology; Anxiety - psychology; Autobiography; Blood Pressure - physiology; Depression; Depression - physiopathology; Depression - psychology; Female; Humans; Male; Memory, Episodic; Mental health; Models, Psychological; Personal Narratives as Topic; Physiological psychology; physiological reactivity; anxiety; aging; depression; physiological reactivity
• ISSN: 1360-7863; 1364-6915
• DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2014.962010

Objectives: Physiological reactivity (PR) describes the change in physiological functioning (e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, pulse pressure) that occurs after the induction of a stressful task. This study aims to understand the influence of mental health symptoms on patterns of PR during autobiographical narratives in an older adult sample. Method: Eighty older adults completed self-report measures regarding their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Next, their blood pressure was recorded while they completed two verbal autobiographical narratives. Results: During the positive narrative, anxiety was positively associated with increased PR while depression was negatively associated with PR. During the negative narrative, a significant interaction occurred whereby anxiety was significantly positively associated with PR for those participants low in depression. Discussion: The above results are explained in the context of the Tripartite Model of Depression and Anxiety, which predicts different patterns of PR as a function of mental health symptoms. Limitations and future directions are also discussed.