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Partnered Stress Response

Meaning

Partnered Stress Response describes the phenomenon where the physiological and emotional reaction to a stressor in one individual is directly and measurably influenced by the presence, behavior, or physiological state of their intimate partner. This response is often characterized by a shared activation or attenuation of the HPA axis and the autonomic nervous system. It demonstrates the profound social modulation of an individual’s stress coping capacity. The partner acts as a potent regulator of the individual’s biological stress mechanisms.