Publications
Journal articles, book chapters, and other scholarly publications. Search by title, author, or keyword, and filter by year, type, or research topic.
31 publications
Transepidermal water loss is positively correlated with blood pressure in young adults
Benham, G. (2026). Transepidermal water loss is positively correlated with blood pressure in young adults. Hypertension Research, 49, 2922–2923.
Show abstractHide abstract: Transepidermal water loss is positively correlated with blood pressure in young adults
Study summary
This correspondence examined associations between transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and blood pressure in young adults. In a cross-sectional sample of 213 undergraduates aged 18–30 years, forearm TEWL was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (r = 0.28, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.23, p < 0.001). Associations persisted after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (partial r = 0.26 for systolic pressure and 0.21 for diastolic pressure). The observations offer preliminary human evidence linking skin-barrier water loss with blood-pressure regulation, but the cross-sectional design, single blood-pressure measurement, and one-site TEWL assessment limit causal interpretation and generalizability. The authors recommend replication using repeated blood-pressure measurements and broader physiological assessment.
Higher sensory processing sensitivity is associated with reduced vagally-mediated heart rate variability
Kenemore, J., Benham, G., & Martinez, A. (2025). Higher sensory processing sensitivity is associated with reduced vagally-mediated heart rate variability. Personality and Individual Differences, 246, 113284.
Show abstractHide abstract: Higher sensory processing sensitivity is associated with reduced vagally-mediated heart rate variability
Abstract
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a biologically based trait characterized by heightened responsiveness to environmental stimuli and emotional reactivity. Prior research has identified associations between SPS and poorer self-reported physical health, however its physiological underpinnings remain poorly understood. This study examined the relationship between SPS and heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic flexibility. Participants were 185 young adult females who completed the Highly Sensitive Person Scale and underwent a three-minute resting electrocardiogram recording to assess HRV. SPS was significantly negatively associated with two measures of HRV (root mean square of successive differences and high-frequency HRV), suggesting reduced autonomic flexibility in individuals with higher SPS. Additionally, exploratory factor analysis of the SPS measure revealed two factors: ease of excitation and low sensory threshold, which were both negatively associated with HRV. All associations remained significant after controlling for respiration rate. Our results contribute to the growing body of evidence linking personality traits to physiological functioning, suggesting that autonomic regulation may be an important mechanism underlying the relationship between SPS and health outcomes. Future research should investigate environmental moderators of these effects and assess whether interventions such as HRV biofeedback and mindfulness can enhance autonomic regulation in high-SPS individuals.
Recent Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress as Serial Mediators of the Association Between Adverse Childhood Events and Insomnia
Benham, G., Cano-Gonzalez, I, Charak, R., Mena Teran, J., & Kenemore, J. (2025). Recent Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress as Serial Mediators of the Association Between Adverse Childhood Events and Insomnia. Behavioral Medicine, 51(1), 61–72.
Show abstractHide abstract: Recent Stressful Life Events and Perceived Stress as Serial Mediators of the Association Between Adverse Childhood Events and Insomnia
Abstract
Insomnia is common in college students and linked to poorer mental and physical health. There is growing evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may contribute to insomnia in adulthood. However, beyond the need for additional replication of these findings, there is a need to identify underlying mechanisms that plausibly connect the two experiences. Based on a serial mediation model, the current study examined the role of two theoretically informed mediators: recent stressful life events and perceived stress. A cross-sectional survey of 2,218 college students at a large university in the southwestern United States was conducted between August 2020 and December 2021. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (96%) and female (73%), with a mean age of 20.7 years. Standardized measures of adverse childhood experiences, recent stressful life events, perceived stress, and insomnia were administered to participants online. Almost 20% of participants reported having experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences and 63% met the threshold for insomnia. Reporting four or more ACEs was associated with significantly greater insomnia severity, and this relationship was serially mediated by both recent stressful life events and perceived stress. However, recent stressful life events appeared to be the most powerful mediator. The results of the current study indicate that recent exposure to stressful life events serves as a plausible mechanism linking early adversity during childhood to adult insomnia and could therefore serve as a potential target for intervention. The findings suggest that students would benefit from university-wide efforts to reduce the number and/or intensity of common stressors.
Adverse childhood experiences moderate the association between sensory processing sensitivity and depression
Benham, G. (2024). Adverse childhood experiences moderate the association between sensory processing sensitivity and depression. Current Psychology, 43, 33141–33144.
Show abstractHide abstract: Adverse childhood experiences moderate the association between sensory processing sensitivity and depression
Abstract
Investigations of the link between personality and depression provide a path to identifying at-risk individuals and devel oping tailored treatment. Sensory processing sensitivity, reflecting individual differences in processing of internal and external stimuli, has been found to predict depression severity. Based on a diathesis-stress model, the present study exam ines whether this association is moderated by adverse childhood experiences. An online survey containing standardized measures of adverse childhood experiences, sensory processing sensitivity, and depression severity, was administered to 558 college students. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (92%) and female (70%) with a mean age of 20.2 years. In support of the diathesis-stress model, sensory processing sensitivity was found to be significantly correlated with depression and this relationship was shown to be stronger at higher levels of adverse childhood experiences. Our findings suggest that individuals with high SPS are at increased risk for depression, particularly if they were raised in adverse environments. Our findings add to the growing research on links between personality and depression. Future research should seek to identify modifiable factors that could serve as potential intervention targets and to examine the extent to which ACEs might moderate the efficacy of such treatment approaches.
Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback as A Treatment for Military PTSD: a Meta-Analysis
Kenemore, J., Benham, G., Hernandez-Rodriguez, J., Charak, R. (2024). Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback as A Treatment for Military PTSD: a Meta-Analysis. Military Medicine, 189(9-10), e1903–e1909.
Show abstractHide abstract: Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback as A Treatment for Military PTSD: a Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Introduction: Emerging research has provided tentative support for the use of heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) as a treatment for several psychological disorders, with meta-analyses providing compelling evidence for HRVB as a promising treatment for anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Given the prevalence of PTSD in military veterans and the comparatively lower benefit and higher attrition rate of traditional psychological treatment for PTSD relative to civilian counterparts, it is important to examine complementary and alternative treatment approaches such as HRVB in this population. Although studies of HRVB for PTSD have been conducted with military veterans, they have involved relatively small sample sizes, limiting interpretation. To address this, the current article presents a comprehensive meta-analysis, consolidating existing literature to more accurately evaluate the efficacy of HRVB in reducing PTSD symptoms within military populations. Materials and Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines, and our protocol was registered with PROSPERO to increase review transparency. A literature search of HRVB interventions was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Military Database, PTSDPubs, and EBSCO’s Psychological and Behavioral Sciences Collection. Results: Five studies met eligibility criteria, providing a combined sample size of 95 military services members. For all studies, effect sizes were negative, indicating a reduction in PTSD symptoms. Effect sizes ranged from −1.614 to −0.414, resulting in an overall moderate to large mean effect for HRVB (Hedges’s g = −0.557; 95% confidence interval = −0.818 to −0.296; P < .001). Additionally, cumulative attrition was 5.8%, significantly lower than commonly reported rates for evidence-based treatments (16%–36%). Conclusions: The present study is the first meta-analysis to examine HRVB as a treatment for military service members with PTSD. Results indicate that HRVB may be a viable treatment approach to reduce PTSD symptomatology. Low attrition rates, ease of accessibility, and favorable participant outlook serve as additional benefits for the use of HRVB.
The pathway from sensory processing sensitivity to physical health: stress as a mediator
Kenemore, J., Chavez, J., & Benham, G. (2023). The pathway from sensory processing sensitivity to physical health: stress as a mediator. Stress & Health, 39(5), 1148-1156.
Show abstractHide abstract: The pathway from sensory processing sensitivity to physical health: stress as a mediator
Abstract
Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) has been proposed as an innate trait associated with differences in the processing and reactivity to internal and external stimuli. To date, there has been limited research on the association between SPS and physical health and only one study examining mediators of this relationship. The aim of this study was to examine psychological stress as a mediator of the SPS-health relationship in a predominately Hispanic sample of 923 adult undergraduates attending university between 2018 and 2020. We identified three SPS factors, each of which were associated with poorer physical health as assessed through two psychometrically validated self-report measures of physical symptoms. Additionally, we demonstrate that this relationship is mediated by perceived stress, suggesting that treatments focussed on stress reduction might be an avenue through which the impact of SPS on physical health can be modified.
A comparison of psychological stress and sleep problems in undocumented students, DACA recipients, and US citizens
Torres, A., Kenemore, J., & Benham, G. (2022). A comparison of psychological stress and sleep problems in undocumented students, DACA recipients, and US citizens. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 24(4), 928-936.
Show abstractHide abstract: A comparison of psychological stress and sleep problems in undocumented students, DACA recipients, and US citizens
Abstract
Amidst the uncertainty of a shifting political landscape, our study examined stress and sleep problems experienced by both Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) undergraduates and non-DACA undocumented immigrants in an undergraduate population, in relation to students who were US citizens. We surveyed 969 students (93% Hispanic; 69% female) in 2017 or 2019 using established measures of stress, sleep quality, and insomnia. Collapsed across years, undocumented students reported significantly greater stress than citizens and DACA students, but DACA students did not differ from citizens. No differences were found in sleep for either quality or insomnia. Additionally, DACA student stress was significantly higher in 2019 than 2017, rising to a level similar to that of undocumented students and that differed significantly from citizens. Undocumented students appear to experience greater stress than students who are U.S. citizens, but these differences do not extend to sleep quality or insomnia.
Sleep Paralysis in College Students
Benham, G. (2022). Sleep Paralysis in College Students. Journal of American College Health, 70(5), 1286-1291.
Show abstractHide abstract: Sleep Paralysis in College Students
Abstract
Objective: We examined the prevalence of sleep paralysis (SP), its association with stress and sleep, and associated subjective experiences and beliefs. Participants: 1,115 college students from a large university in the southwestern United States. The sample was predominantly Hispanic (94%) and female (70%). Methods: Validated measures of life-events stress, self-perceived stress, sleep quality and insomnia were administered to participants online. Results: 35% of students had previously experienced SP and reported greater stress and poorer sleep than those who had never experienced it. Effect sizes were larger when comparing those who had/had not experienced SP within the prior year. Conclusions: Based on our predominantly Hispanic and majority female sample, we found that SP is experienced by approximately one-third of undergraduate students and associated with both higher stress and poorer sleep. We therefore recommend that college health practitioners seek ways to integrate relevant assessment and education into campus health practices.
Bedtime repetitive negative thinking moderates the relationship between psychological stress and insomnia
Benham, G. (2021). Bedtime repetitive negative thinking moderates the relationship between psychological stress and insomnia. Stress & Health, 37(5), 949-961.
Show abstractHide abstract: Bedtime repetitive negative thinking moderates the relationship between psychological stress and insomnia
Abstract
Research suggests that psychological stress is associated with insomnia, but there is limited research on vulnerabilities that might amplify this association, particularly in college students. Based on a sample of 507 undergraduates, the current study demonstrates that the observed positive correlation between self-perceived stress and insomnia severity is moderated by the tendency to engage in repetitive negative thinking (RNT) at bedtime. Additionally, separate analyses of those who scored below/above the threshold for insomnia (non-insomniacs vs. insomniacs) revealed that the interaction between stress and these negative bedtime cognitions differed qualitatively between the two groups. In insomniacs, the stress-insomnia relationship was dampened for those with lower levels of bedtime RNT, but amplified for those with higher levels. For non-insomniacs, the stress-insomnia relationship was stronger for those with minimal bedtime RNT, while higher levels of bedtime RNT appeared to overshadow this association. To develop a better understanding of the contribution of stress and RNT to clinically relevant levels of insomnia, future studies should take into account the dissimilar patterns of moderation seen in noninsomniacs and insomniacs, either through prospective screening or separate analyses. Findings from the current study suggest that insomnia treatments that can simultaneously reduce stress and address bedtime RNT may be optimal.
Stress and sleep in college students prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Benham, G. (2021). Stress and sleep in college students prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stress & Health, 37(3), 504-515.
Show abstractHide abstract: Stress and sleep in college students prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
Within the short timeframe of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing interest in its potential impact on psychological stress and sleep. Using standardized self-report measures, we examined differences in stress and sleep by comparing responses from three independent samples of undergraduates in the United States. Samples were obtained prior to COVID-19 (Spring 2019) and at two periods during the pandemic (Spring 2020 and Summer 2020) which corresponded to an increasing impact of COVID-19 at the local level. Within the combined sample of 1222 students, 94% identified as Hispanic. Contrary to our hypotheses, stress, sleep quality and insomnia were not significantly higher in the samples collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in support of our hypotheses, bedtime and waketime were significantly later during the pandemic, and sleep duration was significantly longer. Although scores on the global measure of sleep quality did not differ across semesters, supplemental exploratory analyses demonstrated a more complex picture of differences in sleep variables. Among the findings, there was evidence of greater sleep latency, greater sleep medication use and poorer sleep efficiency during the pandemic. Our results suggest that, within the US college student population, COVID-19's impact on stress and sleep may not be entirely negative.
The Sleep Health Index: correlations with standardized sleep and stress measures in a predominantly Hispanic college student population
Benham, G. (2019). The Sleep Health Index: correlations with standardized sleep and stress measures in a predominantly Hispanic college student population. Sleep Health, 5(6), 587-591.
Show abstractHide abstract: The Sleep Health Index: correlations with standardized sleep and stress measures in a predominantly Hispanic college student population
Abstract
Objectives: The Sleep Health Index was developed to address limitations with existing sleep scales, particularly in the measurement of healthy sleep in non-clinical populations. The purpose of the current study was to examine this measure in relation to two widely-used sleep scales and two standardized stress scales. Methods: A sample of 416 undergraduate students completed an online survey that included the Sleep Health Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory, Insomnia Severity Index, Perceived Stress Scale, and Index of College Students' Recent Life Events. Results: Sleep health was negatively correlated with self-perceived stress and life-events (−.41 and−.45, respectively), insomnia severity (−.59), and poor sleep quality (−.58). Conclusions: Although other measures assessing sleep health exist, there is a paucity of data-driven support for their validity. Our findings provide support for the Sleep Health Index as a measure of healthy sleep and demonstrate an association between psychological stress and sleep health in an undergraduate student population.
Stress and sleep remain significant predictors of health after controlling for negative affect
Benham, G. & Charak, R. (2019). Stress and sleep remain significant predictors of health after controlling for negative affect. Stress & Health, 35(1), 59-68.
Show abstractHide abstract: Stress and sleep remain significant predictors of health after controlling for negative affect
Abstract
Prior research has shown that the predictive power of a stress-health model can be improved by the addition of sleep as a predictor variable. However, negative affect (NA) may act as a confounding variable in stress-health relationships: a source of bias that potentially inflates the observed relationship between stress and health. The current study examines whether stress and sleep remain significant predictors of health after controlling for trait NA. An online survey containing well-established measures of stress, sleep, health, and NA, was completed by 460 undergraduates. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that stress and sleep remained significant predictors of self-reported health after controlling for the effects of NA. Our findings support the notion that stress-health models can be improved by the integration of sleep as an additional predictor variable and demonstrate that the stress/sleep-health relationships are not fully explained by dispositional NA. From a theoretical perspective, the inclusion of NA measures allows researchers to tease apart the unique contributions of predictor variables. This knowledge can subsequently be put to the test with greater confidence in the design of interventions that seek to improve health through stress reduction and improved sleep.
The association between body mass index and sleep in a predominantly Hispanic college population
Benham, G. (2017). The association between body mass index and sleep in a predominantly Hispanic college population. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 39(3), 389-397.
Show abstractHide abstract: The association between body mass index and sleep in a predominantly Hispanic college population
Abstract
An association between inadequate sleep and body mass index (BMI) has been demonstrated in previous studies, but there is a relative paucity of data from Latino/Hispanic populations. In the present study, 750 college students, 93% of whom were Hispanic, completed an online survey that included standardized measures of sleep quantity, sleep quality, and insomnia. BMI was significantly higher in those who had inadequate sleep quantity, in those with poor sleep quality, and in those who experienced insomnia. Our results extend previous research, demonstrating an association between BMI and three measures of sleep in a predominantly Hispanic college student sample.
Short sleep duration is associated with obesity in Hispanic manufacturing workers
Benham, G., Ghaddar, S. F., & Talavera-Garza, L. (2017). Short sleep duration is associated with obesity in Hispanic manufacturing workers. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 28(4), 1304-1313.
Show abstractHide abstract: Short sleep duration is associated with obesity in Hispanic manufacturing workers
Abstract
The present study examined the relationship between obesity and sleep duration among Hispanic manufacturing workers. Two hundred and twenty eight Hispanic workers from eight manufacturing plants completed an inperson interview that included measures of demographics, health literacy, and sleep duration. Height and weight were directly assessed. A logistic regression, controlling for gender, education, age, income, physical activity levels, selfreported health status, and health literacy, indicated that workers who slept six hours or less were significantly more likely to be obese than those sleeping seven to nine hours (OR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.04–3.47). Our results extend previous research on the association between sleep duration and obesity to an understudied population of Hispanic workers.
An examination of the equivalency of self-report measures obtained from crowdsourced versus undergraduate student samples
Briones, E. & Benham, G. (2017). An examination of the equivalency of self-report measures obtained from crowdsourced versus undergraduate student samples. Behavior Research Methods, 49(1), 320-334.
Show abstractHide abstract: An examination of the equivalency of self-report measures obtained from crowdsourced versus undergraduate student samples
Abstract
Increasingly, researchers have begun to explore the potential of the Internet to reach beyond the traditional undergraduate sample. In the present study, we sought to compare the data obtained from a conventional undergraduate collegestudent sample to data collected via two online survey recruitment platforms. In order to examine whether the data sampled from the three populations were equivalent, we conducted a test of equivalency using inferential confidence intervals—an approach that differs from the more traditional null hypothesis significance testing. The results showed that the data obtained via the two online recruitment platforms, the Amazon Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing site and the virtual environment of Second Life, were statistically equivalent to the data obtained from the college sample, on the basis of means of standardized measures of psychological stress and sleep quality. Additionally, correlations between the sleep and stress measures were not statistically different between the groups. These results, along with practical considerations for the use of these recruitment platforms, are discussed, and recommendations for other researchers who may be considering the use of these platforms are provided.
Development of the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale (SHS): A self-report tool for assessing sensitivity to sensory stimuli
Dixon, E., Benham, G., Sturgeon, J. A., Mackey, S., Johnson, K. A., & Younger, J. (2016). Development of the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale (SHS): A self-report tool for assessing sensitivity to sensory stimuli. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 39, 537-550.
Show abstractHide abstract: Development of the Sensory Hypersensitivity Scale (SHS): A self-report tool for assessing sensitivity to sensory stimuli
Abstract
Sensory hypersensitivity is one manifestation of the central sensitization that may underlie conditions such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. We conducted five studies designed to develop and validate the Sensory Hypersensitive Scale (SHS); a 25-item self-report measure of sensory hypersensitivity. The SHS assesses both general sensitivity and modality-specific sensitivity (e.g. touch, taste, and hearing). 1202 participants (157 individuals with chronic pain) completed the SHS, which demonstrated an adequate overall internal reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) of 0.81, suggesting the tool can be used as a cross-modality assessment of sensitivity. SHS scores demonstrated only modest correlations (Pearson’s r) with depressive symptoms (0.19) and anxiety (0.28), suggesting a low level of overlap with psychiatric complaints. Overall SHS scores showed significant but relatively modest correlations (Pearson’s r) with three measures of sensory testing: cold pain tolerance (-0.34); heat pain tolerance (-0.285); heat pain threshold (-0.271). Women reported significantly higher scores on the SHS than did men, although gender-based differences were small. In a chronic pain sample, individuals with fibromyalgia syndrome demonstrated significantly higher SHS scores than did individuals with osteoarthritis or back pain. The SHS appears suitable as a screening measure for sensory hypersensitivity, though additional research is warranted to determine its suitability as a proxy for central sensitization.
Skin barrier recovery is not associated with self-perceived stress
Benham, G. (2016). Skin barrier recovery is not associated with self-perceived stress. Stress and Health, 32(5), 616-620.
Show abstractHide abstract: Skin barrier recovery is not associated with self-perceived stress
Abstract
The primary aim of the current study was to examine the association between self-perceived stress and skin-barrier recovery. From an initial sample of 410 students, 19 high-stress and 12 low-stress Hispanic women completed a behavioural survey and were assessed for recovery of skin barrier following a tape-stripping procedure. No association was found between self-perceived stress and skin barrier recovery at either the 30-min or 3.15-h recovery period. Supplemental analysis showed a positive correlation between skin barrier recovery and self-reported sleep quantity at both recovery periods. Barrier repair reflects a single, minimally invasive, measure of wound healing; thus, our findings do not necessarily contradict the notion that stress measures can be used to predict wound healing more broadly defined. Supplemental analysis demonstrated an intriguing relationship between barrier recovery and the number of hours slept, but these findings are considered tentative and will require replication with more rigorous measures of sleep quantity and quality.
Sleep: An important factor in stress-health models
Benham, G. (2010). Sleep: An important factor in stress-health models. Stress and Health, 26(3), 204-214.
Show abstractHide abstract: Sleep: An important factor in stress-health models
Abstract
A growing body of literature supports the notion that psychological stress negatively impacts physical health. In parallel to this programme of stress/health investigations, researchers are demonstrating the deleterious health effects of poor sleep. The current study simultaneously examines the association of both stress and sleep with health. Two hundred and eighteen subjects completed an anonymous survey packet that included stress, sleep and health measures. Psychological stress (as assessed by both life-events and by self-perceived stress), daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality, but not sleep quantity, were all negatively associated with health. A regression model that integrated both stress measures was a statistically significant predictor of health. Adding the sleep measures to the stress-health model accounted for a statistically significantly greater proportion of the variance in health scores, with the stress + sleep model accounting for 39–56 per cent of the variance in health scores depending on the health measure used. These results suggest that studies of stress and health may benefi t from the inclusion of sleep measures and that, from a practical standpoint, poor sleep might be best understood not simply as a sequela of psychological stress but rather as a factor that should be actively addressed as part of the treatment programme.
A comparison of changes in secretory immunoglobulin A following a stress-inducing and a stress-reducing task
Benham, G., Nash, M. R., & Baldwin, D. (2009). A comparison of changes in secretory immunoglobulin A following a stress-inducing and a stress-reducing task. Stress and Health, 25(1), 81-90.
Show abstractHide abstract: A comparison of changes in secretory immunoglobulin A following a stress-inducing and a stress-reducing task
Summary
Research suggests that the immune system may be adversely affected by chronic stress. There is some evidence that relaxation-based practices may effect an increase in immune functioning, but recent fi ndings suggest that acute stress may lead to similar increases. Given this, we used a counterbalanced within-subjects design to directly compare the effects of a stressful mental arithmetic task and a relaxation-based task on secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA). Thirty participants were seen in small groups of two or three where they were administered both a mental arithmetic (stress) task and a relaxing hypnosis task. Four-minute timed saliva samples were obtained immediately following the two experimental tasks and following two baseline periods. Results demonstrated that, compared with baseline, S-IgA concentration and secretion rate were significantly higher following both the relaxation-based task and stress task. Additionally, our data showed that the increases were short-lived, decreasing significantly within 8 min following the completion of each task. Our results indicate that both stress-reducing and stress-inducing tasks can increase S-IgA levels, and these results are discussed with reference to the potential differential mechanisms and clinical significance of such changes.
Hypnosis and mind-body interactions
Benham, G. & Younger, J. (2008). Hypnosis and mind-body interactions. In M. R. Nash & A. J. Barnier, The Oxford Handbook of Hypnosis: Theory, Research, and Practice (pp. 393-438). New York, NY, Oxford University Press.
Effect of healing touch on stress perception and biological correlates
Bowen, J. E., Maville, J., & Benham, G. (2008). Effect of healing touch on stress perception and biological correlates. Holistic Nursing Practice, 22, 103-110.
Show abstractHide abstract: Effect of healing touch on stress perception and biological correlates
Abstract
The objective of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of Healing Touch on state/trait anxiety and physiological measures of heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, skin conductance, and skin temperature in healthy adults. The study used a single group, repeated measures design with a nonprobability convenience sample of 30 subjects. Physiological data were collected for 10 minutes before intervention, during 30 minutes of Healing Touch treatment, and for 10 minutes posttreatment. During the course of the treatment, changes were observed for all psychological and physiological measures, with the exception of muscle tension that remained constant. Results suggest that Healing Touch treatment is associated with both physiological and psychological relaxation. Further study is warranted to explore the efficacy of Healing Touch as an intervention for stress in healthy adults.
The shape of stress: The use of frequent sampling to measure temporal variation in S-IgA levels during acute stress
Benham, G. (2007). The shape of stress: The use of frequent sampling to measure temporal variation in S-IgA levels during acute stress. Stress and Health, 23(5), 295-301.
Show abstractHide abstract: The shape of stress: The use of frequent sampling to measure temporal variation in S-IgA levels during acute stress
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that statistically significant increases in Secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) can be achieved in as little as 5min as a result of mental stress. However, the temporal resolution of these changes is low and therefore the rate and pattern of changes during the stress task and during subsequent recovery is unclear. A within-subjects design was used to examine levels of S-IgA before, during and after a short (8min) mental stress task. S-IgA was measured from saliva samples obtained every 2min during the entire 30-min session. Significant increases in S-IgA concentration were observed as early as the task instruction period, with additional increases during the stress task itself. The data also show a rapid recovery of S-IgA, with a return to baseline levels within 6min. Results suggest that S-IgA changes can occur very rapidly and that the observed increases are short-lived.
Illicit prescription stimulant use among college students living near the U.S. - Mexico Border
Benham, G., Huerta, A., & Salazar, S. (2006). Illicit prescription stimulant use among college students living near the U.S. - Mexico Border. Hispanic Health Care International, 4(4), 195-202.
Expect the unexpected: Ability, attitude, and responsiveness to hypnosis
Benham, G., Woody, E., Wilson, S. K. & Nash, M. R. (2006). Expect the unexpected: Ability, attitude, and responsiveness to hypnosis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 91(2), 342-350.
The Highly Sensitive Person: Stress and physical symptom reports
Benham, G. (2006). The Highly Sensitive Person: Stress and physical symptom reports. Personality and Individual Differences, 40(7), 1433-1440.
Show abstractHide abstract: The Highly Sensitive Person: Stress and physical symptom reports
Abstract
The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) scale is a measure of sensory-processing sensitivity, which is conceptualized as involving both high levels of sensitivity to subtle stimuli and being easily overaroused by external stimuli. The current study examines the relationship between an individual’s sensory-processing sensitivity, self-perceived stress, and physical symptom reports. Results indicated that sensory-processing sensitivity is positively correlated with levels of stress and symptoms of ill-health. After controlling for self-perceived stress and gender, the HSP scale added significantly to a hierarchical regression model predicting self-reported health. The inclusion of an interaction term in the model proved to be non-significant, suggesting that the relationship between stress, sensory-processing sensitivity and health is best explained by an additive model. Future research examining personality factors in health and illness may benefit from the inclusion of the HSP measure.
The truth and the hype of hypnosis
Nash, M. R. & Benham, G. (2005). The truth and the hype of hypnosis. Scientific American Mind, 16(2), 46-53.
Hypnosis
Benham, G., & Nash, M. R. (2004). Hypnosis. In B. S. Oken (Ed.), Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurology: An Evidence-based Approach to Clinical Practice (pp. 169-188). New York, NY. Taylor and Francis.
International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis: Editorial
Benham, G. (2003). International Journal of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis: Editorial. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 51, 95-96.
Hypnotic susceptibility scales: Are the mean scores increasing?
Benham, G., Smith, N., & Nash, M. R. (2002). Hypnotic susceptibility scales: Are the mean scores increasing? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 50, 5-16.
Self-fulfilling prophecy and hypnotic responding are not the same thing
Benham, G., Bowers, S., Nash, M. R., & Muenchen, R. (1998). Self-fulfilling prophecy and hypnotic responding are not the same thing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75 (6) 1604-1613.
EEG power spectral and coherence differences between attentional states during a complex auditory task
Benham, G., Rasey, H., Lubar, J. F., Frederick, J., & Zoffuto, C. A. (1997). EEG power spectral and coherence differences between attentional states during a complex auditory task, Journal of Neurotherapy, 2(3) 1-9.
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