The Social Regulation of Threat-related Vigilance and Arousal
Purpose
This study will examine the effects of social support on threat vigilance and arousal using eye tracking. We will also test the moderating effects of trauma and discrimination history.
Conditions
- Psychological Trauma, Historical
- Discrimination, Racial
- Emotion Regulation
- Social Interaction
- Hypervigilance
- Anxiety
Eligibility
- Eligible Ages
- Between 18 Years and 65 Years
- Eligible Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- In a stable romantic relationship for 6 months or more - Normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision - Fluent in English
Exclusion Criteria
- If vision is corrected-to-normal, needs to use hard contact lenses, bifocal contact lenses, or glasses - Experienced a traumatic event within the past 4 weeks
Study Design
- Phase
- N/A
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Crossover Assignment
- Primary Purpose
- Basic Science
- Masking
- None (Open Label)
Arm Groups
| Arm | Description | Assigned Intervention |
|---|---|---|
|
Experimental Social support from a romantic partner |
Participants will hold the hand of their romantic partner |
|
|
Active Comparator Social support from a stranger |
Participants will hold the hand of a stranger |
|
|
No Intervention No social support |
Participants will hold a stress ball |
|
Recruiting Locations
More Details
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sponsor
- University of Nevada, Reno
Detailed Description
Both interpersonal trauma (IPT) and ethno-racial discrimination amplify risk for hyper-arousal symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the mechanism of this effect is unclear. Prior research suggests that social support plays an important role in regulating emotional responses, a process called social emotion regulation. This study will test whether a history of IPT and/or ethno-racial discrimination influence the social regulation of arousal and vigilance. Social regulation will be tested by contrasting responses under conditions with and without social support.
