Understanding stress regulation in relation to pathological personality traits: The role of Detachment and Negative Affect.

OBJECTIVES

The extent to which the pathological personality traits of Detachment and Negative Affect influence psychophysiological responses to stress is insufficiently explored. This pilot study aimed to investigate how these traits account for variations in perceived stress, and emotional and physiological responses to stress.

DESIGN &

METHODS

434 students (87 % female) participated in a cross-sectional study, in which the association between trait levels and perceived stress was assessed. In the laboratory study (N = 76), individual differences in Detachment/Negative Affect on heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), skin conductance, and negative emotional state in response to and in recovery of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), were analyzed with repeated measures ANCOVAs.

RESULTS

Results showed that individuals with high-trait detachment/negative affect report higher levels of perceived stress, blunted heart period to and incomplete recovery of stress, and an overall elevated negative emotional state during the TSST task, compared to the low-trait group

CONCLUSION

The higher levels of perceived stress, an attenuated physiological stress response to and recovery of psychosocial stress, combined with an overall high negative affect in high-trait individuals warrants the development and testing of interventions that target the emotional and physiological risk profile associated with high levels of these pathological traits.