Subliminal activation of social ties moderates cardiovascular reactivity during acute stress

The quality and quantity of one's personal relationships have been reliably linked to important physical health outcomes, perhaps through the mechanism of physiological stress responses. Most studies of this mechanism have focused on whether more conscious interpersonal transactions influence cardiovascular reactivity. However, whether such relationships can be automatically activated in memory to influence physiological processes has not been determined. In this study, we subliminally activated relationship positivity and negativity and had individuals engage in self-relevant stressors. Results revealed that priming negative relationships was associated with greater threat, lower feelings of control, and higher diastolic blood pressure reactivity during the stressor tasks. Moreover, priming relationships high in positivity and negativity (ambivalent ties) was associated with the highest heart rate reactivity and greatest respiratory sinus arrhythmia withdrawal during the stressor tasks. Results of this study were discussed in light of mechanisms linking relationships with health, and the specific effects of positivity and negativity in relationships.