Browsing by Author "Lash, Steven Joseph"

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    Cardiovascular reactivity to stress in men: effects of masculine gender role stress appraisal and masculine performance challenge
    Lash, Steven Joseph (Virginia Tech, 1989-08-05)
    Previous research has shown that excessive cardiovascular reactivity may be important in the development of coronary heart disease. The present study examines the role of masculine cognitive appraisal of stress as a mediator of cardiovascular reactivity in men. The reactivity of men who differed on a measure of cognitive appraisal of masculine gender role stress (MGRS) was compared using the cold-pressor test under conditions of high and low masculine performance challenge. Under conditions of minimal challenge, it was predicted that high and low MGRS men would not differ on reactivity. Under high challenge, high MGRS men were expected to show greater reactivity than low MGRS men. Since coping responses are related to appraisal of stressful situations and impact on cardiovascular reactivity, subjects' coping responses were also assessed. Analysis of results for systolic blood pressure confirmed the major predictions. High MGRS men showed greater systolic blood pressure reactivity than low MGRS men under high challenge and equal or less reactivity under low masculine performance challenge. In general, the high and low MGRS groups did not differ in their use of coping strategies as a function of the high and low challenge condition. The implications of MGRS appraisal for men's health are discussed.
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    Gender differences in cardiovascular reactivity: effects of the gender relevance of the stressor
    Lash, Steven Joseph (Virginia Tech, 1991-11-05)
    Previous research suggests that sex differences in cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) are a function of differences in cognitive appraisal of stressors as masculine-relevant or feminine-relevant tasks. Two studies were conducted to examine the role of the appraised gender relevance of stressors as a mediator of sex differences in CVR. In the first study the CVR of male and female college students (N = 95) to the cold-pressor test (CPT) was compared under masculine-relevant and gender-neutral stressor instructions during an anticipation phase, a stressor phase, and a recovery phase. Men were expected to show greater CVR than women to the masculine-relevant CPT, but not to the gender-neutral CPT. Results supported this prediction for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) reactivity, but not diastolic blood pressure (DBP) reactivity. In the second study the CVR of male and female college students (N = 121) to the CPT was compared under masculine-relevant and female-relevant stressor instructions during an anticipation phase, a stressor phase, and a recovery phase. Men were predicted to show greater CVR than women to the masculine-relevant CPT while women were expected to show greater CVR to the feminine-relevant CPT. Results supported these predictions for SBP, but not HR reactivity. The results for DBP were mixed. Men did not show greater DBP reactivity than women to the masculinerelevant CPT, but women showed greater DBP reactivity than men to the feminine-relevant CPT. The potential influence of sex differences in cognitive appraisal of situations on CVR and coronary heart disease is discussed.
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    The Impact of Motives-Related Feedback on Drinking to Cope Among College Students
    Blevins, Claire E. (Virginia Tech, 2015-06-15)
    Motives for alcohol use are associated with distinct antecedents and consequences. Drinking alcohol to cope with negative affect is consistently associated with the most problematic patterns of use. Interventions targeting drinking to cope are needed. This randomized controlled treatment trial evaluated the impact of a brief coping motive feedback-based intervention on motives and problematic outcomes associated with drinking. In addition, a more comprehensive model of the antecedents and consequences of drinking to cope was tested. The study randomized 170 participants to receive either a brief Standard Feedback Condition (SFC; n = 83) or a Motives Feedback Condition (MFC; n = 87) that added education and feedback on drinking to cope as well as alternate coping strategies. Significant reductions in drinking to cope with depression were greater in the MFC at the 2-month follow-up, but the intervention's effect on drinking to cope with anxiety did not reach conventional levels of statistical significance. Significant reductions in drinking and negative consequences were observed but did not differ significantly by condition. Change in coping with depression motives mediated the effect of the intervention on outcomes of drinking and negative consequences. Partial support was found for a structural model linking antecedents of use, coping motives, and consequences associated with substance use. This study is a promising new direction in motives research, providing support for brief interventions incorporating motives-related feedback and for furthering our understanding of the origins and consequences of drinking to cope with negative affect.