An absorbent article comprises a signal element having a body-facing surface, a garment-facing surface, a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction and a z-direction. The signal element includes a water-soluble polymeric buffering film and a stimulation material. The water-soluble polymeric buffering film comprises a water-soluble base polymer. In some aspects, the stimulation material comprises a temperature change agent, and the signal element exhibits a surface temperature change of at least +/-2° C. In some aspects, the signal element exhibits a stimulation effect over at least two aqueous insults.
