Comparing the Effects of Cognitive and Social Stress among Individuals with Headache

Stress is the most frequently reported trigger of headache. A number of studies have examined responses to cognitive and physical stressors among individuals with headache, primarily using self-report and various physiological measurements as outcome variables. In the stress literature more broadly, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) consistently has been shown to be a valid and reliable method of eliciting laboratory stress. However, this popular stress manipulation has not been previously used or promoted within the headache literature. The present study aimed to introduce the TSST to the headache literature and to experimentally compare the TSST to a cognitive stressor in its ability to elicit cardiovascular reactivity, perceived stress, and headache activity. The present sample consisted of 50 young adults (82% female) with a mean age of 18.84 years (SD = 1.54). Significant within- and between-group differences were observed for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR). Mean SBP, DBP, and HR were not statistically different between conditions at Baseline but diverged during the stress manipulation. Individuals in the Social condition experienced significantly higher SBP, DBP, and HR than those in the Cognitive condition. SBP and DBP also remained elevated during the Recovery phase for those in the Social condition only. No significant differences were observed in self-reported state anxiety, perceived stress, acceptance, or headache activity. Results of the present study suggest that the TSST is a superior method of inducing a cardiovascular stress response than cognitive stress tasks among individuals with headache. Limitations and clinical implications are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.A. in Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2017

Author dc:creator

• Johnson, Yelena Louise

Contributors dc:contributor

• Todd A. Smitherman
• Michael Allen
• Kelly G. Wilson

• Headache
• Migraine
• Social stress
• Stress
• Trier Social Stress Test
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/1220

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:egrove.olemiss.edu:etd-2219