Impact of family cancer history on acute stress reactivity

Lisa Ann Howell

doi:10.7273/000006163

Objective: A burgeoning set of studies have examined ways in which a family history of cancer may be associated with chronic or background stress. This study compared cardiovascular reactivity and affective responses to two laboratory acute stress tasks (cancerspecific and neutral Stroop tests) among young adults with (FCH+) and without (FCH-) a firstdegree cancer family history. The primary study hypothesis was that compared to the FCHgroup, individuals in the FCH+ group would experience increased cardiovascular reactivity during and immediately after the cancer-specific Stroop task. Design: 81 participants completed a questionnaire and participated in laboratory-based acute stress tasks. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome variables included heart rate and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic). Change in state mood and task performance were also assessed. Results: Contrary to expectations, there were no significant Task X Group interactions for any for any of the physiological outcomes variables. A significant main effect for recovery heart rate was noted such that the Neutral Stroop was associated with better recovery than the Cancer Stroop. Secondary hypotheses were partially supported; in a Task X Group interaction the FCH+ group endorsed more task anxiety and recovery anger during the Cancer Stroop than during the Neutral Stroop. Participants, regardless of group status, made a higher percentage of errors during the Cancer Stroop. Exploratory analyses of the FCH+ group revealed that certain features of the family cancer experience (i.e., which relative affected and physical proximity to relative at diagnosis) predicted differences in task and recovery SBP and DBP. Conclusions: This study found limited evidence to support the hypotheses that compared to the FCH- group, FCH+ individuals would have increased reactivity to a cancer-relevant acute stress task. We did find some evidence to support more negative affective responses to the Cancer Stroop within the FCH+ group, and some indication that both groups displayed greater reactivity and cognitive interference to the cancer-relevant task. Important facets of the family cancer history experience that explained some variability in physiological responses within the FCH+ group. Future research should further explore facets of the family cancer experience that influence physiological and psychological stress responses.

Impact of family cancer history on acute stress reactivity

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