Repressive and defensive coping styles predict resting plasma endorphin levels in the elderly

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Psychophysiology
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Repressive and defensive coping styles may be linked to endogenous opioid activity.
• High-defensiveness (HD) was hypothesized to correlate with increased central opioid activity, indicated by reduced distress and enhanced pain tolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between defensiveness and plasma beta-endorphin (END) levels.
• To examine correlations between the Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD) and Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS) with endorphin levels.

Main Methods:

• Plasma beta-endorphin levels were measured in 59-79 year old men (n=6) and women (n=20).
• Participants completed the MCSD and TMAS to assess social desirability and anxiety.
• Participants were categorized as high-defensive (HD) or low-defensive (LD).

Main Results:

• Contrary to predictions, HD participants exhibited lower plasma endorphin levels than LD participants.
• A significant negative correlation was found between MCSD scores and endorphin levels in women.
• The small sample size of men may have limited the statistical power for detecting significant findings in males.

Conclusions:

• The findings do not support the hypothesis that high defensiveness is associated with greater central endogenous opioid activity.
• Defensiveness, particularly in women, may involve alterations in central opioid systems, but in a manner opposite to that previously proposed.
• Further research with larger, balanced samples is needed to clarify the complex relationship between coping styles and opioid systems.