Fig 1.
A) In the embrace condition, participants filled out questionnaires and provided a baseline measurement for cortisol, blood pressure and affective state prior to the experimental onset. After this was concluded, a 20s embrace in the absence of the experimenter took place. Following the embrace, the couples were subjected to the SECPT in a group setting with another measurement cycle of cortisol, blood pressure and affective state. 15 and 25 minutes after the SECPT was concluded, another measurement was conducted. B) Same as in A), but the partners did not embrace prior to the SECPT.
Fig 2.
Cortisol concentration for women (top) and men (bottom) during baseline, the SECPT and 15 minutes as well as 25 minutes post SECPT for the embrace and control condition. White dots represent the median value for each group. Error bars represent the upper and lower quartiles. Group differences between the conditions are marked. * = p < .05.
Table 1.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of logarithmized cortisol values across the four measurement time points broken down by condition and sex.
Table 2.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of systolic blood pressure values across the four measurement time points broken down by condition and sex.
Table 3.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of diastolic blood pressure values across the four measurement time points broken down by condition and sex.
Table 4.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of positive PANAS values across the four measurement time points broken down by condition and sex.
Table 5.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of negative PANAS values across the four measurement time points broken down by condition and sex.
Table 6.
Descriptive values (mean value and standard deviation) of the SECPT ratings and the duration of the SECPT broken down by condition and sex.