Sex Differences in Relationship Regret: The Role of Perceived Mate Characteristics

The current set of studies examined regret involving action and inaction in the realm of romantic relationships by testing whether such regret is associated with the characteristics of one's mate. In study 1, 394 participants reported on a previous casual sexual encounter, and in study 2, 358 participants reported on a previous romantic relationship. In both, instances of actual engagement and instances of passing up opportunities were studied. Study 3 was experimental and elicited reactions to hypothetical scenarios from 201 participants. Regret reported by men in both study 1 and study 2 varied as a function of the perceived attractiveness of the participants' actual and potential mate. Regret reported by women in study 2 varied as a function of the perceived stinginess of the participant's mate and perceived wealth of the participants' potential mate. Study 3 found that sex differences in type of regret (with men regretting inaction more than women) occurred only when the mate presented in the scenario was described in ways consistent with mate preferences. Together these findings suggest that regret differs between the sexes in ways consistent with sex differences in mate preferences

Retrobulbar and peripheral capillary blood flow in hypercholesterolemic subjects

PURPOSE: To assess retrobulbar blood flow velocities and finger nailfold capillary blood flow velocities (two readily accessible vascular beds) in subjects with primary hypercholesterolemia before and during lipid-lowering therapy. METHODS: Retrobulbar blood flow velocities and finger nailfold capillary blood flow velocities were assessed in 15 hypercholesterolemic subjects and in 15 age-matched and sex-matched healthy control subjects. In addition, the change in blood flow velocities after a 3-month period of lipid-lowering therapy was evaluated. RESULTS: No alterations in retrobulbar blood flow velocities after lipid-lowering therapy could be observed in hypercholesterolemic patients. Nailfold capillary blood flow velocity was slower in hypercholesterolemic subjects than control subjects immediately after local cooling (P = .0052), but this vascular dysregulation did not improve after lipid-lowering therapy (P = .58). CONCLUSIONS: Blood flow alterations, potentially caused by perturbed vascular endothelial function, may occur in nailfold capillaries of hypercholesterolemic subjects. Such alterations were not seen in retrobulbar vessels, and blood flow measures did not change during lipid-lowering therapy