Negative social evaluation, but not mere social presence, elicits cortisol responses to a laboratory stressor task.
BACKGROUND
Recent research has supported the premise that performance conditions characterized by social-evaluative threat, in which an aspect of the self could be judged by others, are associated with cortisol responses. However, it remains unclear whether this effect is due to negative social evaluation per se or simply the presence of another during a performance situation.


METHODS
In the present study, 89 undergraduates delivered a speech in 1 of 3 conditions: in front of an evaluative audience panel (social-evaluative threat [SET]), in the presence of an inattentive confederate (PRES), or alone in a room (non-SET).


RESULTS
Consistent with hypotheses, participants in the SET condition demonstrated a significant cortisol response, while those in the non-SET and PRES conditions did not show increases in this hormone. Further, participants in the SET condition who reported greater posttask levels of self-conscious cognitions and emotions demonstrated the greatest increases in cortisol.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the mere social presence of others is not driving the changes in cortisol observed under social-evaluative threat; instead, explicit negative social evaluation may be responsible for increases in this health-relevant physiological parameter.
Dickerson
Sally S
SS
Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine 92697-7085, USA. sdickers@uci.edu
Mycek
Peggy J
PJ
Zaldivar
Frank
F
D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva; D012649:Self Concept; D013060:Speech; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006854:Hydrocortisone