Abstract

RODRIGUEZ-MEDINA, David Alberto et al. Is the Psychophysiological Stress-Relaxation Response the Same in all Cancer Survivors?. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2022, vol.12, n.3, pp.86-101.  Epub June 26, 2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2022.3.464.

A cancer survivor continually suffers from autonomic manifestations due to the disease, their cancer treatment, and the psychological stress they continually face. One of the psychophysiological measures used to assess stress is the decrease in peripheral temperature. In contrast, psychological relaxation procedures for stress management seek to increase temperature. However, it is unknown if this response is the same in all patients. This research examined breast cancer survivors’ temperature changes during psychosocial stress and relaxation protocol. Additionally, self-reported pain and its interference with psychosocial functioning were evaluated. The results showed peripheral temperature variations in the patients; however, not all patients presented with the same temperature pattern, finding three subgroups of patients whose linear temperature trajectories allowed generating an affective prognosis for stress management. By self-report, no psychosocial differences were found between the subgroups, although an inverse association between sleep interference and peripheral temperature was found. It is concluded that peripheral temperature distinguishes patients who find it challenging to manage psychosocial stress from those who benefit from psychological relaxation procedures.

Keywords : Pain; Peripheral temperature; TSST-C; Guided imagery; Breast cancer survivor.

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