Differential effects of harassment on cardiovascular and salivary cortisolstress reactivity and recovery in women and men

To explore the differential effects of harassment on cardiovascular and neu roendocrine stress reactivity and recovery, 28 men and 32 women were random ized to a harassment or no-harassment control condition (four groups in tot al). The harassment consisted of three scripted statements delivered during performance of a mental arithmetic stress task. The harassing statements w ere delivered on a fixed schedule during the task by a same-gender experime nter. Cardiovascular, salivary cortisol, and state affect measures were tak en at baseline, immediately post-task, and throughout an extended recovery period. In comparison to the control condition, harassment accentuated the stress reactivity responses on all measures, physiological and self-report of subjective affect. In addition, several gender differences in response t o the stressor and during the recovery period were observed. Harassed men h ad the largest reactivity on cortisol and diastolic blood pressure, whereas the harassed women showed a more pronounced response on heart rate and sel f-reported hostility. The harassed groups were the only ones to show signif icant cortisol responses. Within the harassed condition, comparison of effe ct sizes revealed that cortisol reactivity in men was twice that of women. Control groups did not exhibit significant cortisol changes. During the rec overy period, harassed men exhibited attenuated return to baseline on cardi ovascular indices and cortisol, whereas women, overall, tended to exhibit a n overcompensation response on cardiovascular measures. These results contr ibute to showing a pathway that may link negative affect (i.e., hostile or angry feelings) with the development of cardiovascular disease. (C) 1999 El sevier Science Inc.