Depression and anxiety predict sex-specific cortisol responses to interpersonal stress.
Clinical theories posit interpersonal stress as an important factor in the emergence and exacerbation of depression and anxiety, while neuroendocrine research confirms the association of these syndromes with dysregulation in a major stress response system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the proposal that depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses are associated with problematic HPA responses to close relationship stress has not been directly tested. We examined 196 heterosexual dating couples' depression and anxiety symptoms and diagnoses, assessed with questionnaires and diagnostic interviews, in relation to cortisol responses to discussion of an unresolved relationship conflict. Participants provided seven salivary samples in anticipation of and directly following the discussion, and throughout an hour-long recovery period, which were assayed for cortisol. Multilevel models of the HPA response predicted by symptoms or diagnoses showed that women's depressive symptoms predicted attenuated cortisol levels, with a flatter response curve. In contrast, men's depression symptoms and women's anxiety symptoms and diagnoses predicted higher cortisol levels. These findings highlight the importance of examining sex differences in responses to interpersonal stressors for understanding HPA dysregulation in internalizing psychopathology.
University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst, MA 01003, United States. Electronic address: sallypowers@cns.umass.edu.
Sally I
SI
Powers
University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst, MA 01003, United States. Electronic address: hlaurent@uoregon.edu.
Heidemarie K
HK
Laurent
University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Meredith
M
Gunlicks-Stoessel
University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Susan
S
Balaban
University of Massachusetts, Dept. of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Amherst, MA 01003, United States.
Eileen
E
Bent
D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000378:metabolism; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D012463:Saliva; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D006854:Hydrocortisone
Anxiety; Cortisol; Depression; Gender differences; HPA; Interpersonal conflict