title: Emotion regulation and cortisol reactivity to a social-evaluative speech task.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous laboratory studies have found a relationship between experimentally manipulated emotion regulation strategies such as suppression and reappraisal and cardiovascular reactivity. However, these studies have not examined trait forms of these strategies and cortisol responses. The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between trait suppression, reappraisal, and cortisol reactivity to a social-evaluative speech task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire [ERQ; Gross, J.J., John, O.P., 2003. Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 85, 348-362] to assess trait suppression and reappraisal and were asked to complete a speech task in front of an evaluative audience. They provided five saliva samples throughout the duration of the session to assess cortisol response patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consistent with hypotheses, trait suppression predicted exaggerated cortisol responses to the speech task, with those scoring higher on suppression exhibiting greater cortisol reactivity. High levels of trait reappraisal also predicted exaggerated cortisol reactivity to the speech task.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that certain emotion regulation strategies such as suppression and reappraisal predict heightened cortisol reactivity to an acute stressor. Future studies should examine the psychological mechanisms through which these emotion regulation strategies affect cortisol response patterns.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, United States of America.
authors.forename: Suman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Sally S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Dickerson
authors.forename: Peggy M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Zoccola
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zaldivar
mesh_terms: D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone