Biography

Siobhán Howard completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway (NUI Galway), graduating with her PhD in 2008. Since then, Siobhán has worked as a postdoctoral researcher at NUI Galway in the Centre for Research on Occupational and Life Stress (CROLS) and the School of Psychology (2008-2011), lecturer in psychology at the Department of Psychology at Mary Immaculate College (2011-2017), and currently works at UL as Senior Lecturer in Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Limerick. She is the past holder of an Irish Research Council New Horizons Research Project Award, a Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Award, and in 2015 and was joint National Co-Ordinator of the European Social Survey in Ireland (with Dr Brendan O'Keeffe, Mary Immaculate College) from 2016-2018.




Research Interests

My research interests rest in the overlap between behavioural medicine and individual differences. My primary conceptual contributions concern the isolation of key individual differences not just as representing patterns of etiological variation, but as comprising the biological bases for etiological risk. In other words, rather than mapping more correlational linkages between risk factors and outcomes, I have developed novel experimental paradigms with which to experimentally establish biologically plausible pathways linking personality to disease. In particular, my experimental work in testing the role of Type D personality in cardiovascular disease mechanisms has been highly significant in supplementing the otherwise statistically-focused datasets implicating this typology in health outcomes. Through a series of experimental studies, I have shown that healthy persons with Type D personality exhibit attenuated (i.e., maladaptive) cardiovascular stress responsivity in precisely the same way as shown by persons with severe depression or obesity.




Professional Activities

Award

  • 2018 - Early Career Award

Education

  • 2011 National University of Ireland, Galway - Postgraduate Certificate
  • 2009 National University of Ireland, Galway - PhD
  • 2003 National University of Ireland, Galway - BA (hons) Psychology

Association

  • Member, Psychological Society of Ireland
  • Member, Stress and Anxiety Research Society

Peer Reviewed Journals

2021

Motivational orientation mediates the association between depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress

Keogh, T., Howard, S., O'Riordan, A., & Gallagher, S. (2021) Motivational orientation mediates the association between depression and cardiovascular reactivity to acute psychological stress. Psychophysiology

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2021

Instructed reappraisal and cardiovascular habituation to recurrent stress

Griffn, S. M.; Howard, S. (2021) Instructed reappraisal and cardiovascular habituation to recurrent stress. Psychophysiology

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2020

Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: The mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships

O’Riordan A.;Howard S.;Brown E.;Gallagher S. (2020) Type D personality and cardiovascular reactivity to acute stress: The mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships. Psychophysiology

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2020

Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task

Griffin, S. M.; Howard, S. (2020) Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task. USA Psychophysiology

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2020

Cardiovascular stress reactions in recent- and long-retired rugby players when watching a game

Howard S.;Fitzgerald G.;Gallagher S. (2020) Cardiovascular stress reactions in recent- and long-retired rugby players when watching a game. Physiology & behavior

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2020

Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task

Griffin S.M.;Howard S. (2020) Establishing the validity of a novel passive stress task. Psychophysiology

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2020

Personality, cardiovascular, and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study

Coyle D.;Howard S.;Bibbey A.;Gallagher S.;Whittaker A.;Creaven A. (2020) Personality, cardiovascular, and cortisol reactions to acute psychological stress in the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study. International Journal Of Psychophysiology :67-74

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2020

The psychological impact of Stevens¿Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis on patients¿ lives: a Critically Appraised Topic

O'Reilly P.;Kennedy C.;Meskell P.;Coffey A.;Delaunois I.;Dore L.;Howard S.;Ramsay B.;Scanlon C.;Wilson D.;Whelan B.;Ryan S. (2020) The psychological impact of Stevens¿Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis on patients¿ lives: a Critically Appraised Topic. British Journal Of Dermatology

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2020

Type D personality and life event stress: the mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships

O’Riordan A.;Howard S.;Gallagher S. (2020) Type D personality and life event stress: the mediating effects of social support and negative social relationships. Anxiety Stress And Coping

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2019

Social Context and Sex Moderate the Association Between Type D Personality and Cardiovascular Reactivity

Riordan A.;Howard S.;Gallagher S. (2019) Social Context and Sex Moderate the Association Between Type D Personality and Cardiovascular Reactivity. Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback

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2018

Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure

O'Súilleabháin, P. S, Howard, S., & Hughes, B. M. (2018) Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure. Psychophysiology :e13023-

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2018

Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure

O Suilleabhain, PS;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2018) Openness to experience and adapting to change: Cardiovascular stress habituation to change in acute stress exposure. HOBOKEN : WILEY Psychophysiology

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2018

Social connectedness and depression: Is there added value in volunteering?

Creaven, AM;Healy, A;Howard, S (2018) Social connectedness and depression: Is there added value in volunteering?. LONDON : SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD Journal Of Social And Personal Relationships :1400-1417

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2018

Sleep restriction undermines cardiovascular adaptation during stress, contingent on emotional stability

Lu, W,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,James, JE (2018) Sleep restriction undermines cardiovascular adaptation during stress, contingent on emotional stability. Biological psychology :125-132

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2018

Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure

O'Súilleabháin, P.S., Howard, S. & Hughes, B.M. (2018) Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure. Plos One :e0199221-

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2018

Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure

O'Suilleabhain, PS;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2018) Openness to experience and stress responsivity: An examination of cardiovascular and underlying hemodynamic trajectories within an acute stress exposure. SAN FRANCISCO : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE Plos One

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2018

Cognitive Bias of Interpretation in Type D Personality: Associations with Physiological Indices of Arousal

Howard, S;O'Riordan, A;Nolan, M (2018) Cognitive Bias of Interpretation in Type D Personality: Associations with Physiological Indices of Arousal. NEW YORK : SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback :193-201

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2018

Cardiovascular stress-response adaptation: Conceptual basis, empirical findings, and implications for disease processes

Hughes, BM;Lu, W;Howard, S (2018) Cardiovascular stress-response adaptation: Conceptual basis, empirical findings, and implications for disease processes. AMSTERDAM International Journal Of Psychophysiology :4-12

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2018

Pre-service Teachers and Stress During Microteaching: An Experimental Investigation of the Effectiveness of Relaxation Training with Biofeedback on Psychological and Physiological Indices of Stress

Horgan, K;Howard, S;Gardiner-Hyland, F (2018) Pre-service Teachers and Stress During Microteaching: An Experimental Investigation of the Effectiveness of Relaxation Training with Biofeedback on Psychological and Physiological Indices of Stress. NEW YORK : SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS Applied Psychophysiology And Biofeedback :217-225

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2017

Repressive coping and cardiovascular reactivity to novel and recurrent stress

Howard, S,Myers, LB,Hughes, BM (2017) Repressive coping and cardiovascular reactivity to novel and recurrent stress. Anxiety Stress And Coping :562-574

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2017

Restructuring the College Classroom: A Critical Reflection on the Use of Collaborative Strategies to Target Student Engagement in Higher Education

Griffin, CP,Howard, S (2017) Restructuring the College Classroom: A Critical Reflection on the Use of Collaborative Strategies to Target Student Engagement in Higher Education. Psychology Learning And Teaching-Plat :375-392

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2017

Perceived social support predicts lower cardiovascular reactivity to stress in older adults

Howard, S,Creaven, AM,Hughes, BM,O'Leary, ED,James, JE (2017) Perceived social support predicts lower cardiovascular reactivity to stress in older adults. Biological psychology :70-75

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2016

Conscientiousness and mindfulness in midlife coping: An assessment based on MIDUS II

Sesker, AA,Suilleabhain, PO,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2016) Conscientiousness and mindfulness in midlife coping: An assessment based on MIDUS II. Personality And Mental Health :29-42

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2015

Differential hemodynamic effects during the provision of active and passive support in the laboratory

Gallagher, S,Howard, S,Heffernan, M (2015) Differential hemodynamic effects during the provision of active and passive support in the laboratory. Psychology & Health :1088-1102

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2015

Salivary alpha-Amylase Reactivity to Laboratory Social Stress With and Without Acute Sleep Restriction

O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2015) Salivary alpha-Amylase Reactivity to Laboratory Social Stress With and Without Acute Sleep Restriction. Journal Of Psychophysiology :55-63

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2015

"Literacy Lift-Off": an experimental evaluation of a reading recovery programme on literacy skills and reading self-concept

Higgins, E,Fitzgerald, J,Howard, S (2015) "Literacy Lift-Off": an experimental evaluation of a reading recovery programme on literacy skills and reading self-concept. Educational Psychology In Practice :247-264

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2014

Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status

Creaven, AM,Skowron, EA,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,Loken, E (2014) Dyadic concordance in mother and preschooler resting cardiovascular function varies by risk status. Developmental Psychobiology :142-152

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2013

Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women

Creaven A.;Howard S.;Hughes B. (2013) Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women. British journal of health psychology :556-573

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2013

Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women

Creaven, AM,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) Social support and trait personality are independently associated with resting cardiovascular function in women. British journal of health psychology :556-573

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2013

Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men

Howard S.;Hughes B. (2013) Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men. Biological psychology :450-455

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2013

Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy

Kola S.;Walsh J.;Hughes B.;Howard S. (2013) Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine :401-412

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2013

Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy

Kola, S,Walsh, JC,Hughes, BM,Howard, S (2013) Matching intra-procedural information with coping style reduces psychophysiological arousal in women undergoing colposcopy. Journal Of Behavioral Medicine :401-412

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2013

Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men

Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) Type D personality is associated with a sensitized cardiovascular response to recurrent stress in men. Biological psychology :450-455

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2013

An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women

O'Leary E.;Howard S.;Hughes B.;James J. (2013) An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women. International Journal Of Psychophysiology :37-43

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2013

An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women

O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2013) An experimental test of blunting using sleep-restriction as an acute stressor in Type D and non-Type D women. International journal of psychophysiology : official journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology :37-43

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2012

Attention focus, trait anxiety, and pain perception in patients undergoing colposcopy

Kola, S., Walsh, J. C., Hughes, B. M., & Howard, S. (2012) Attention focus, trait anxiety, and pain perception in patients undergoing colposcopy. European Journal Of Pain :890-900

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Books

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Chapters

2019

Effects of Trait Emotion Regulation on Stress Responsivity.

Griffin, S. M.; Howard, S. (2019) Effects of Trait Emotion Regulation on Stress Responsivity.. Berlin : Logos Verlag Stress and Anxiety

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2012

Sleep duration and health: Examining psychosomatic stress-related pathways

O'Leary, E. D., Howard, S., & James, J. E. (2012) Sleep duration and health: Examining psychosomatic stress-related pathways. Berlin : Logos Verlag Stress and anxiety: Application to economic hardship, occupational demands, and developmental challenges

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Edited Books

2015

Stress and Anxiety: Applications to schools, well-being, coping and internet use.

(2015) Stress and Anxiety: Applications to schools, well-being, coping and internet use.. Berlin : Logos Verlag

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2014

Stress and Anxiety: Application to occupations and education

(2014) Stress and Anxiety: Application to occupations and education. Berlin : Logos Verlag

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Other Journals

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Conference Publications

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Conference Contributions

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Published Reports

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Editorials

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Book Reviews

This author has not written any publications of this type yet.

Other Publications

2018

The psychological impact of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) on an adult's well-being: protocol for an integrative literature review.

O'Reilly, P, Kennedy, C, Coffey, A, Delaunois, I, Dore, L, Howard, S, Meskell, P, Ramsay, B, Scanlon, C, Wilson, D.M, Ryan, S (2018) The psychological impact of Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) on an adult's well-being: protocol for an integrative literature review. . CRD42018111369 Available from: : PROSPERO

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2017

MID-RANGE TRAIT CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONING DURING ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE

Sesker, AA;Howard, S;Hughes, BM (2017) MID-RANGE TRAIT CONSCIENTIOUSNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTIONING DURING ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE. PHILADELPHIA : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS Psychosomatic medicine :40-41

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2017

NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE DIPPING AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ACUTE STRESS IN YOUNG ADULTS: EVALUATING CONCORDANCE USING AMBULATORY AND LABORATORY-BASED METHODS

Creaven, AM,Howard, S,O'Leary, ED,Hughes, BM,James, JE (2017) NOCTURNAL BLOOD PRESSURE DIPPING AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ACUTE STRESS IN YOUNG ADULTS: EVALUATING CONCORDANCE USING AMBULATORY AND LABORATORY-BASED METHODS. Psychosomatic medicine :11-11

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2017

TYPE D PERSONALITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO ACUTE STRESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW OF STUDIES USING ACTIVE TASKS

Howard, S,Kupper, N,Denollet, J (2017) TYPE D PERSONALITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO ACUTE STRESS: A META-ANALYTIC REVIEW OF STUDIES USING ACTIVE TASKS. Psychosomatic medicine :57-57

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2017

OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE AND STRESS RESPONSIVITY: AN EXAMINATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND UNDERLYING HEMODYNAMIC TRAJECTORIES WITHIN AN ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE

O'Silleabhain, PS,Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2017) OPENNESS TO EXPERIENCE AND STRESS RESPONSIVITY: AN EXAMINATION OF CARDIOVASCULAR AND UNDERLYING HEMODYNAMIC TRAJECTORIES WITHIN AN ACUTE STRESS EXPOSURE. Psychosomatic medicine :26-27

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2017

SLEEP RESTRICTION UNDERMINES CARDIOVASCULAR ADAPTION TO STRESS, CONTINGENT ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY

Lu, W,Hughes, BM,Howard, S,James, JE (2017) SLEEP RESTRICTION UNDERMINES CARDIOVASCULAR ADAPTION TO STRESS, CONTINGENT ON EMOTIONAL STABILITY. Psychosomatic medicine :83-84

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2017

HOSTILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ANGER-PROVOCATION WITH AND WITHOUT SLEEP-RESTRICTION

Hughes, BM,Lu, W,Howard, S,James, JE (2017) HOSTILITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSES TO ANGER-PROVOCATION WITH AND WITHOUT SLEEP-RESTRICTION. Psychosomatic medicine :106-107

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2017

INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EMOTION REGULATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS

Griffin, SM;Howard, S (2017) INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN EMOTION REGULATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS. PHILADELPHIA : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS Psychosomatic medicine :54-54

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2016

Mental Health Issues among Undergraduate Students: Do Education Students Suffer More Than Medical Students?

Klaus, S;Stewart, B;Lydon, S;Howard, S;Byrne, D;Fitzgerald, J;Gardiner-Hyland, F;Ring, E;O Connor, P (2016) Mental Health Issues among Undergraduate Students: Do Education Students Suffer More Than Medical Students?. LONDON : SPRINGER LONDON LTD Irish journal of medical science :244-244

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2014

FATIGUE, CORTISOL AWAKENING AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS: EVIDENCE FROM AN ACUTE SLEEP RESTRICTION MANIPULATION

O' Leary, _ED,Howard, S,James, JE (2014) FATIGUE, CORTISOL AWAKENING AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE IN HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS: EVIDENCE FROM AN ACUTE SLEEP RESTRICTION MANIPULATION. Psychosomatic medicine :67-68

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2013

BLUNTING AS A POSSIBLE TYPE D MECHANISM OF EFFECT?

Howard, S,Hughes, BM (2013) BLUNTING AS A POSSIBLE TYPE D MECHANISM OF EFFECT?. Psychosomatic medicine :91-91

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2013

IS 'BLUNTING' A SUPPRESSED RESPONSE OR A NON-RESPONSE? AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST USING SLEEP-RESTRICTION AS AN ACUTE STRESSOR

Hughes, BM,Howard, S,O'Leary, ED,James, JE (2013) IS 'BLUNTING' A SUPPRESSED RESPONSE OR A NON-RESPONSE? AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST USING SLEEP-RESTRICTION AS AN ACUTE STRESSOR. Psychosomatic medicine :7-7

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2012

ACUTE RESTRICTION OF SLEEP DURATION AND TYPE D PERSONALITY: FATIGUE, HEMODYNAMIC, AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE TO SOCIAL STRESS IN WOMEN

O'Leary, ED,Howard, S,James, JE (2012) ACUTE RESTRICTION OF SLEEP DURATION AND TYPE D PERSONALITY: FATIGUE, HEMODYNAMIC, AND SALIVARY ALPHA-AMYLASE RESPONSE TO SOCIAL STRESS IN WOMEN. Psychophysiology :30-30

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2012

Acute restriction of sleep duration and type D personality: haemodynamic and salivary alpha-amylase response to social stress in women

Leary, EO,Howard, S,James, J (2012) Acute restriction of sleep duration and type D personality: haemodynamic and salivary alpha-amylase response to social stress in women. Journal Of Sleep Research :208-208

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