Researchers have been unable to clearly examine the specific psychological mechanisms through which social support buffers stress effects on cardiovascular reactivity, and the boundary conditions under which social support operates. The present study, based on the stress-buffering model of social support, will examine patterns of cardiovascular reactivity and recovery, via impedance cardiography, across different stressors, as well as positive affective states as psychological mediators. Pet owners' bonds with their pets will be used as a positive supportive condition to compare with human support because the positive emotions evoked in the presence of one's pet may be identical to the positive emotions felt with a supportive other in non-evaluative stressors.
Aim #1 will replicate past findings, comparing friend-support and no support in two different stressful situations, in order to examine potential psychological mediators linking social support to cardiovascular reactivity and recovery.
Aim #2 and #3 will extend Aim #1 by comparing pet support with no support, and then, comparing pet support with friend support. Discovery of such mediation pathways has important implications for the study of social support effects on cardiovascular health. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31HL081963-01
Application #
6984460
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BDCN-L (29))
Program Officer
Czajkowski, Susan
Project Start
2005-09-01
Project End
2008-08-31
Budget Start
2005-09-01
Budget End
2006-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$30,015
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Utah
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009095365
City
Salt Lake City
State
UT
Country
United States
Zip Code
84112