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Related Experiment Videos

Sex differences in prolactin change during mourning.

R D Lane, S C Jacobs, J W Mason

    Journal of Psychosomatic Research
    |January 1, 1987
    PubMed
    Summary

    Men and women show different physiological responses during bereavement. Post-loss prolactin (PRL) changes correlate with cognitive complexity of spouse descriptions, but in opposite directions for each sex.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychology
    • Neuroendocrinology
    • Grief Studies

    Background:

    • Conjugal bereavement is a significant life stressor.
    • Physiological changes, such as prolactin (PRL) levels, are associated with grief.
    • Individual differences in cognitive processing of loss may influence these physiological changes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the relationship between cognitive complexity of spouse descriptions and prolactin (PRL) changes during bereavement.
    • To explore potential sex differences in the psychological and physiological correlates of mourning.

    Main Methods:

    • Interviewed 14 men and 12 women 8 weeks after conjugal bereavement.
    • Measured prolactin (PRL) levels before and after the interview.
    • Assessed cognitive complexity of deceased spouse descriptions using the Developmental Level of Object Representation (DLOR) scale.

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    Main Results:

    • Significant correlations were found between DLOR and PRL change in both sexes.
    • Women exhibited a positive correlation between DLOR and PRL change.
    • Men showed a negative correlation between DLOR and PRL change.

    Conclusions:

    • Cognitive processing of loss is linked to physiological changes during bereavement.
    • Sex-specific patterns in the relationship between psychological and physiological responses to mourning were identified.
    • Findings suggest distinct physiological adaptations to grief in men and women.