Table 2.

Test statistics for the full models run in Experiment 2, where mice were handled briefly twice per week, for five weeks and housed either under CTRL or UCMS conditions. Handling method, strain, sex and housing condition were included as fixed factors and home cage nested in experimenter was included as a random factor.

Experiment 2	Fixed factors
Outcome measures	Handling method	Strain	Sex	Handling method × strain	Handling method × sex	Before/after handling	Handling session	Handling method × before/after	Handling method × session	Housing condition	Handling method × housing condition
Voluntary interaction with hand	F1,58 = 5.86 P = 0.04	F1,56 = 30.20 P < 0.001	F1,56 = 6.62 P = 0.03	F1,55 = 7.2 P = 0.02	F1,56 = 0.01 P = 0.92	F1,424 = 10.01 P = 0.003	F1,475 = 20.55 P < 0.001	F1,424 = 2.94 P = 0.17	F1,475 = 4.27 P = 0.08	F1,56 = 8.23 P = 0.01	F1,56 = 0.06 P = 0.81
Voluntary interaction with hand after EPM	F1,66 = 16.29 P = 0.0002	F1,66 = 33.03 P < 0.001	F1,66 = 0.008 P = 0.93	F1,66 = 10.54 P = 0.003	F1,66 = 2.39 P = 0.25	–	–	–	–	F1,66 = 8.31 P = 0.01	F1,66 = 0.018 P = 0.90
Time in EPM open arms	F1,72 = 0.21 P = 0.65	F1,72 = 0.003 P = 0.95	F1,72 = 0.37 P = 0.54	F1,72 = 0.45 P = 0.50	F1,72 = 1.44 P = 0.23	–	–	–	–	F1,72 = 0.57 P = 0.45	F1,72 = 4.71 P = 0.03
Entries to EPM open arms	F1,72 = 3.88 P = 0.05	F1,72 = 6.08 P = 0.02	F1,72 = 0.133 P = 0.72	F1,72 = 1.84 P = 0.18	F1,72 = 1.69 P = 0.20	–	–	–	–	F1,72 = 0.32 P = 0.57	F1,72 = 6.52 P = 0.01
Adrenal gland weight	F1,72 = 0.09 P = 0.77	F1,72 = 94.81 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 555.10 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 0.0001 P = 0.33	F1,72 = 0.86 P = 0.36	–	–	–	–	F1,72 = 1.91 P = 0.17	F1,72 = 0.066 P = 0.80
Sucrose preference	F1,72 = 0.52 P = 0.47	F1,72 = 9.43 P = 0.003	F1,72 = 0.017 P = 0.90	F1,72 = 0.032 P = 0.86	F1,72 = 0.15 P = 0.70	–	–	–	–	F1,72 = 32.55 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 0.014 P = 0.91
Nest score	F1,70 = 1.44 P = 0.23	F1,70 = 8.62 P = 0.004	F1,70 = 1.57 P = 0.21	F1,70 = 2.37 P = 0.13	F1,70 = 0.22 P = 0.64	–	–	–	–	F1,70 = 1.89 P = 0.13	F1,70 = 0.30 P = 0.59
Body weight	F1,72 = 3.62 P = 0.06	F1,72 = 1.18 P = 0.28	F1,72 = 918.11 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 2.50 P = 0.12	F1,72 = 0.14 P = 0.71					F1,72 = 0.18 P = 0.67	F1,72 = 0.009 P = 0.93

	Handling method	Strain	Sex	Handling method × strain	Handling method × sex	Housing condition	Blood collection timepoint	Handling method × blood collection timepoint	Handling method × housing condition	Blood collection timepoint × housing condition
Plasma corticosterone levels	F1,72 = 0.31 P = 0.58	F1,72 = 86.22 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 22.77 P < 0.001	F1,72 = 0.13 P = 0.71	F1,72 = 009 P = 0.92	F1,72 = 3.88 P = 0.06	F1,391 = 506.92 P < 0.001	F2,391 = 0.65 P = 0.53	F1,72 = 0.122 P = 0.73	F1,391 = 3.11 P = 0.04

"Handling method × sex", "handling method × strain" and "handling method × housing condition" interactions were included to the model. For VIT, handling session (1st or 2nd), and handling order (before or after handling) were added to the model as explanatory variables and additionally all interactions with the handling method were fitted. For plasma corticosterone analysis, blood collection timepoint (initial, reaction, and recovery) and interaction with housing condition and handling method was added to the model.

Significant values are in bold.