Anxiety, reactivity, and social stress-induced cortisol elevation in humans

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Aug;26(4):351-4.

Abstract

Objectives: Traditionally, it has been hypothesized that highly anxious/emotionally reactive subjects may have exaggerated social stress response. We examined the relationship between self-reported anxiety, emotional reactivity, and social stress response.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between personality scales of trait-state anxiety, subjective autonomic reactivity, and salivary cortisol levels before and after social stress exposure (Trier Social Stress Test) in 20 men.

Results: Significant positive correlations between anxiety, subjective autonomic reactivity, and basal cortisol levels were observed, while neither anxiety nor subjective autonomic reactivity was correlated with social stress-induced cortisol elevation.

Conclusions: The present results indicate (i) subjects with higher degrees of trait anxiety/subjective autonomic reactivity have higher basal cortisol levels, and (ii) in contrast to the traditional view, anxious personality is not strongly associated with exaggerated cortisol response to social stress.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Anxiety / blood*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood*
  • Male
  • Personality / physiology*
  • Social Behavior
  • Stress, Psychological / blood*

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone