Using Affectionate Communication as a Response to Acute Stress

NCT ID: NCT00468572

Last Updated: 2012-01-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 120 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2007-02-28
• Study Completion Date: 2007-12-31

Brief Summary

This study will examine the effects of tending to significant social relationships on managing and reducing stress.

Detailed Description

Stress is a large part of daily modern life; however, it can cause a number of long-term problems for mental and physical health. Recent research has confirmed that there are definite mental and physical health benefits of maintaining significant positive social bonds. Many of these benefits appear to be associated with the ability to regulate stress that is caused by environmental challenges. Drawing on close relationships and expressing affection may help people to recover from stress more effectively. This study will evaluate the tend-and-befriend theory, which suggests that engaging in behaviors aimed at maintaining and strengthening significant social bonds can act as an adaptive response to acute stress.

All participants in this study will undergo a series of standard laboratory stressors designed to elevate cortisol levels. Cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone," is activated and secreted within the body in response to stress. Current research suggests that displaying signs of affection toward a loved one can lower cortisol levels, causing the body to relax and recover from a stressful situation more quickly. After lab tests have been completed, participants will be randomly assigned to an experimental or control group. Participants assigned to the experimental group will spend 20 minutes writing an affectionate letter to a loved one. Participants assigned to the control group will spend 20 minutes writing about meaningless topics. Levels of cortisol will be measured using saliva samples from each participant during the writing session. Levels of oxytocin, a hormone known to transmit signals within the brain and often associated with bonding and building trusting relationships, will be measured from blood samples taken during the writing session as well. Participants will also provide a self-report of their current stress level at the end of the study. Participation in this study will last approximately 2 hours. By examining associations between the communication of affection and responses to acute stress, this study may eventually lead to the development of new and better treatment options for people with constant acute stress.

Conditions

Stress

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

1

Participants will receive treatment with affectionate writing

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Affectionate Writing

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the experimental group will spend 20 minutes writing an affectionate letter to a loved one. Levels of cortisol will be measured using saliva samples from each participant during the writing session. Levels of oxytocin, a hormone known to transmit signals within the brain and often associated with bonding and building trusting relationships, will be measured from blood samples taken during the writing session as well.

2

Participants will receive treatment with meaningless writing

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Meaningless Writing

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the control group will spend 20 minutes writing about meaningless topics. Participants will undergo the same testing during the writing session as the experimental group.

Interventions

Affectionate Writing

Participants assigned to the experimental group will spend 20 minutes writing an affectionate letter to a loved one. Levels of cortisol will be measured using saliva samples from each participant during the writing session. Levels of oxytocin, a hormone known to transmit signals within the brain and often associated with bonding and building trusting relationships, will be measured from blood samples taken during the writing session as well.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Meaningless Writing

Participants assigned to the control group will spend 20 minutes writing about meaningless topics. Participants will undergo the same testing during the writing session as the experimental group.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• English-speaking
• Weigh at least 110 pounds
• Moderate to no anxiety about having blood drawn

Exclusion Criteria

• Hypertension or diabetes
• Current or recent pregnancy
• Colorblindness
• History of cancer
• Current use of alpha blockers, beta blockers, or steroids

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 75 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

NIH

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Arizona State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Arizona State University

Principal Investigators

Kory Floyd, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Arizona State University

Locations

Exercise and Sports Research Institute

Tempe, Arizona, United States

Countries

United States

References

Floyd K, Mikkelson AC, Tafoya MA, Farinelli L, La Valley AG, Judd J, Haynes MT, Davis KL, Wilson J. Human affection exchange: XIII. Affectionate communication accelerates neuroendocrine stress recovery. Health Commun. 2007;22(2):123-32. doi: 10.1080/10410230701454015.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 17668992 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

R03MH075757

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

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DATR A2-A1A

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

R03MH075757

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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