Perceived social support moderates the link between threat-related amygdala reactivity and trait anxiety.

ABSTRACT: Several lines of research have illustrated that negative environments can precipitate psychopathology, particularly in the context of relatively increased biological risk, while social resources can buffer the effects of these environments. However, little research has examined how social resources might buffer proximal biological risk for psychopathology or the neurobiological pathways through which such buffering may be mediated. Here we report that the expression of trait anxiety as a function of threat-related amygdala reactivity is moderated by perceived social support, a resource for coping with adversity. A significant positive correlation between amygdala reactivity and trait anxiety was evident in individuals reporting below average levels of support but not in those reporting ave

SUBMITTER: Hyde LW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3026865 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature