Objectives: The aim of this study is to understand the characteristics of salivary ALPHA-amylase reactivity (sAA), as a biological maker of stress, by viewing negative affective pictures.
Methods: Forty six normal healthy subjects participated in this study. Prior to the experiment, the participants completed baseline psychological assessment including trait-dependent anxiety scales. On experiment, saliva samples were collected one time before and three times after exposure to 5-min stressor consisting 20 negative affective pictures. The state-related scales were measured before and just after exposure to stressor to assess the subjects’ state anxiety.
Results: Overall, sAA was significantly decreased over time with the increase of negative affect score and state-anxiety. The Anxiety Scale Inventory scores were negatively correlated with the baseline as well as the other following sAA levels (all ps<.05) while the scores of the state-related scales were related not with the baselin but with the other followings. The baseline level of sAA was significantly lower in the higher susceptible group (change of Negative Affect score > or =2, N=19) than in the lower counterpart (<2, N=27) in comparison between them (mean:46.6 vs. 76.5 U/mL, p=.024). After the exposure, the means of sAA levels significantly decreased over time in the lower susceptible group, whereas did not in the higher one (mean:-1.7 vs. -23.0 U/mL, p=.031).
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the baseline level of sAA and its reactivity depend on individual trait of anxiety as well as state of reactivity to affective stress.
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