Autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to mild psychological stressors: Effects of chronic stress on older women

We investigated autonomic and endocrine responses to acute stressors in 27 women who were or are presently caring for a spouse with a progressive deme ntia (high chronic stress) and 37 noncaregivers who were category matched f or age and family income (low chronic stress). Measures were taken before ( low acute stress) and in response to brief laboratory stressors (high acute stress). We replicated prior research showing that caregivers report great er stress, depression, and loneliness than the comparison groups, and acute stressors elevate autonomic and neuroendocrine activity. We also found tha t caregivers, relative to noncaregivers, exhibited shorter preejection peri ods and elevated blood pressure and heart rate, but the magnitude of autono mic and neuroendocrine reactivity to the experimental stressors was compara ble across these groups. This pattern of autonomic differentiation replicat es prior research showing that caregivers are characterized by higher sympa thetic activation than noncaregivers and suggests that the effects of chron ic stress on physiological reactivity may be a less robust effect in older adults.