Lifespan psychosocial stressors, optimism, and hemodynamic acute stress response in a national sample

To understand the association between psychosocial stressors and cardiovascular health by evaluating: (a) lifespan patterns of childhood and adulthood stressors in relation to hemodynamic acute stress reactivity and recovery and (b) the role of optimism in these associations.

Participants (n = 1,092, 56% women, 21% racial/ethnic minority, Mage = 56.2) were from the Midlife in the United States Study II Biomarker Project. Lifespan profiles of psychosocial stressor exposure (low lifespan exposure, high childhood only, high adulthood only, persistent exposure) were constructed from responses to the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and a life events inventory. Optimism was measured with the Life Orientation Test-Revised. Hemodynamic acute stress reactivity to and recovery from cognitive stressors were assessed using a standardized laboratory protocol involving continuous measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).

Compared with the low lifespan exposure group, the high childhood- and persistent-exposure groups showed lower BP reactivity, and to a lesser extent, slower BP recovery. Persistent exposure was also associated with slower BRS recovery. Optimism did not modify the association between stressor exposure and any hemodynamic acute stress responses. However, in exploratory analyses, greater stressor exposure across all developmental periods was indirectly associated with reduced BP acute stress reactivity and slower recovery via lower optimism levels.

Findings support childhood as a unique developmental period wherein high adversity exposure may exert an enduring influence on adulthood cardiovascular health by limiting individuals' capacity to cultivate psychosocial resources and altering hemodynamic responses to acute stressors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).