Cortisol reactivity in the laboratory predicts ineffectual attentional control in daily life.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to examine an executive control difficulty perspective on individual differences in cortisol reactivity using a daily protocol.


METHODS
Fifty participants competed a laboratory stressor task and individual differences in cortisol reactivity were quantified.


METHODS
Daily attentional control, conflicting thoughts, error reactivity, worry and mindfulness were assessed.


RESULTS
The findings support the idea that as cortisol responses to stress get larger (as an individual difference), attentional control ceases to function as it should in terms of variables that should predict (mindfulness) and follow from (e.g. worry) it.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings support the idea that individual differences in cortisol reactivity can be conceptualised in terms of ineffectual attentional control.
a Psychology, NDSU Department , Fargo , ND , USA.
Michael D
MD
Robinson
Scott
S
Ode
Clayton J
CJ
Hilmert
D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D064866:Mindfulness; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013850:Thinking / Q000502:physiology
D006854:Hydrocortisone
Stress; attentional control; cortisol reactivity; mindfulness; worry