Degree Type
Honors Capstone Project
Date of Submission
Spring 5-4-2014
Capstone Advisor
Prof. Craig Ewart
Honors Reader
Prof. June Allison He
Capstone Major
Psychology
Capstone College
Arts and Science
Audio/Visual Component
no
Capstone Prize Winner
no
Won Capstone Funding
yes
Honors Categories
Sciences and Engineering
Subject Categories
Health Psychology
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine disorder that affects multiple organ systems within the female body, hallmarked by infertility, the possibility of androgen excess, and the possibility of ovulatory dysfunction. Along with a myriad of physiological symptoms, PCOS is also associated with many psychological issues, including an increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and lower reported quality of life among women diagnosed with PCOS. The need for treatment directed to attenuate any psychological implications of the syndrome has become increasingly important are of research. While some researchers have focused on PCOS in a psychosocial perspective, including analysis on depression, anxiety, and quality of life, more research is needed on how women with PCOS experience stress. This study examined how 16 women with PCOS physiologically responded to a brief stressor, the Social Competence Interview (SCI), as compared to a healthy control population (n=64). Saliva samples were collected at 5 time points (S0-S4) before, during, and after the interview to measure cortisol reactivity to the stressor. Further, the participants were asked to fill out questionnaires to gather information about their perceived stress, their psychiatric symptoms, and their physiological health. Results indicated that women with PCOS reported significantly more somatic complaints than healthy controls. Women with PCOS also had a higher baseline cortisol level than healthy controls. Future research should examine other psychological and physiological factors that could contribute to the experience of stress in women with PCOS.
Recommended Citation
Canavatchel, Amanda, "The experience of stress in women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome" (2014). Renée Crown University Honors Thesis Projects - All. 987.
https://surface.syr.edu/honors_capstone/987
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
