International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology
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Int J Psychophysiol · Nov 2001
Comparative StudyGender differences in cardiovascular and electrodermal responses to public speaking task: the role of anxiety and mood states.
Gender moderates psychophysiological responses to stress. In addition to the hormonal background, different psychological states related to social stressors, such as anxiety and mood, could affect this response. The purpose of this study was to examine the existence of gender differences in the cardiovascular and electrodermal responses to a speech task and their relationship with anxiety and the mood variations experienced. ⋯ No gender differences for HR and for the frequency of NSRs were found. Anxiety and mood states were differently related to cardiovascular and electrodermal measurements in men and women. Further studies should consider the hormonal variations in addition to the psychological dimensions, in order to offer a more integrative perspective of the complex responses to stress.