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Listen to your heart? -- Effect of partner stress on cardiac synchronization
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  • Bernadette Denk,
  • Maria Meier,
  • Sebastian Ocklenburg,
  • Julian Packheiser,
  • Stella Wienhold,
  • Nina Volkmer,
  • Raphaela Gaertner,
  • Elea Klink,
  • Stephanie Dmitroff,
  • Jens Prüssner
Bernadette Denk
University of Konstanz

Corresponding Author:bernadette.denk@uni-konstanz.de

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Maria Meier
University of Konstanz
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Sebastian Ocklenburg
Medical School Hamburg Department Psychology
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Julian Packheiser
Ruhr-Universitat Bochum Fakultat fur Psychologie
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Stella Wienhold
University of Konstanz
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Nina Volkmer
University of Konstanz
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Raphaela Gaertner
University of Konstanz
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Elea Klink
University of Konstanz
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Stephanie Dmitroff
University of Montana
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Jens Prüssner
University of Konstanz
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Abstract

While physiological stress responses have been well investigated in individuals, the effects of stress on interpersonal physiological processes have been studied less frequently. In the current study, we focused on how stress affects physiological synchrony (PS) – i.e., the alignment of physiological changes across individuals – an established phenomenon characterizing social interactions. We hypothesized that PS, specifically cardiac PS, would be altered in romantic couples if one of the partners was exposed to a standardized stressor. In a preregistered study, N = 75 couples (mean age = 22.66 ±2.99, 51% female) were separated upon arrival in the laboratory. In n = 38 dyads, one partner was exposed to a laboratory stressor while the other completed a non-stressful control task (stress dyads), in the other dyads both partners underwent the control paradigm (control dyads). Afterward, partners were reunited, completing a non-verbal synchronization, a walking, and a free interaction task. Partners rated their own and each others’ affect throughout the experiment. Compared to a non-interactive baseline, PS increased during the partners’ interaction. Cardiac synchrony related to parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity was lower in stress compared to control dyads. Further, participants were more accurate in estimating their partner’s emotional valence if their partner was non-stressed. Our findings indicate the disruption of especially PNS-related PS. This highlights that stress is not only an intra- but also interpersonal phenomenon whose effects on the interpersonal physiology of social interactions should be further investigated.
13 Sep 2024Submitted to Psychophysiology
16 Sep 2024Submission Checks Completed
16 Sep 2024Assigned to Editor
16 Sep 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Sep 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned