Association of experienced trauma with acute stress responses in an immigrant sample in Germany

Hauck F, Romero Gibu L, Jansen S, Rohleder N (2024)


Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2024

Journal

Book Volume: 160

Article Number: 106855

DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106855

Abstract

Background

Due to the influence of traumatic experiences on the stress systems, they must also be taken into account when considering immigrants’ health, as migration processes often involve traumatic experiences. The present study focused on alpha-amylase (sAA) responses to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in an immigrant sample. Associations of chronic stress and frequency of experienced trauma with acute stress were examined.

Methods

Thirty-two participants (64.5% women) between the age of 19 and 53 (mean = 30.68) years from Hispanic America passed the TSST. Participants gave six saliva samples and completed the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).

Results

Besides a significant sAA stress response, significant correlations between experienced trauma and chronic stress (r =.53, p <.05) and experienced trauma and sAA response (r =.42, p <.05), but no association for perceived chronic stress and sAA response (n.s.) were found. A multiple regression analysis was run to determine whether experienced trauma and perceived chronic stress may predict the sAA stress response. The overall model was significant (F(3,31) = 3.42, p <.05, R² = 26.8%), whereas only experienced trauma was able to predict sAA increase (t = 2.95, p =.00) following the TSST.

Conclusion

Taken together, results showed a stronger sAA stress response following the TSST when participants reported higher numbers of traumatic events. Perceived chronic stress was not able to predict sAA stress response, which indicates a specific effect of traumatic events on the sympathetic nervous system.

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How to cite

APA:

Hauck, F., Romero Gibu, L., Jansen, S., & Rohleder, N. (2024). Association of experienced trauma with acute stress responses in an immigrant sample in Germany. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106855

MLA:

Hauck, Felicitas, et al. "Association of experienced trauma with acute stress responses in an immigrant sample in Germany." Psychoneuroendocrinology 160 (2024).

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