Kho, C., & Zawadzki, M. J. (February 2019). Culture as a dynamic process: Examining associations with stress and health in everyday life. Paper presented at the annual Social Personality and Health network health preconference at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.

This data blitz presentation highlighted the dynamic nature of culture, where independent and interdependent values were measured using an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) approach. Results show that when a Latino individual reported higher levels of interdependence than typical, that person also reported better stress and health: lower levels of stress, rumination, anxiety,  and sadness, as well as higher coping and self-reported health. Findings suggest that assessment of culture is vital for stress and health outcomes and highlight important implications for using dynamic and ecologically valid measures of culture.

Zawadzki, M. J., & Gavrilova, L. (February 2019). All the lonely people: Comparing social- and non-social-focused mental stress on blood pressure recovery. Paper presented at the annual Social Personality and Health network health preconference at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Portland, OR.

Matthew found that remembering negative social experiences increased blood pressure and kept blood pressure high during a recovery period when people normally return back to their resting levels. Results suggest the importance of addressing our ruminative and worrisome thoughts to improve cardiovascular health.