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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Cardiovascular stress responses in young adulthood associated with family-of-origin relationship experiences
Linda J Luecken1, Anna P Rodriguez, Bradley M Appelhans
1Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA. Linda.Luecken@asu.edu
Objective:
The impact of relationships within the family-of-origin on the development of physiological stress responses has significant consequences for long-term vulnerability to stress-related illness.
Methods:
The current study evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) responses to a challenge task in 150 young adults from families characterized by parental loss, divorce, or intact marriages.
Results:
Overall, higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery of SBP. For DBP and HR, interactions were found in which higher-quality family relationships were associated with stronger recovery in the loss group relative to the divorce and intact groups. Good support was found for a mediational model outlining self-regulatory abilities as a pathway linking family relationships to SBP reactivity and recovery.
Conclusions:
Findings provide further evidence that family-of-origin relationship experiences can affect cardiovascular responses to later-life stress.
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