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Physiological Spillover Effect

Meaning

The Physiological Spillover Effect is the phenomenon where a state of physiological dysregulation or chronic stress activation originating in one domain of an individual’s life, such as a high-demand work environment, negatively influences their biological function in an unrelated domain, such as their intimate relationship or metabolic health. This effect is a key indicator of impaired allostatic capacity, where chronic activation of stress pathways cannot be effectively contained or localized. It manifests as a measurable change in relational stress biomarkers.