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Updated: Oct 10, 2026
A Modified Trier Social Stress Test for Vulnerable Mexican American Adolescents
Published on: July 10, 2017
Social desirability scores are associated with higher morning cortisol levels in firefighters
S Brody1, D Wagner, M Heinrichs
1Center for Psychobiological and Psychosomatic Research, University of Trier, Friedrich-Wilhelm Strasse 23, D-54290, Trier, Germany. brody@fpp.uni-trier.de
Objective:
To examine the association of social desirability (SD) responding ("defensiveness") and cortisol levels.
Methods:
Marlowe-Crowne SD scores and morning salivary cortisol were measured in firefighters.
Results:
SD scores were associated with higher cortisol levels (r=.28) in 60 firefighters under age 45, but not in 25 older firefighters (or the combined sample).
Conclusion:
The results are consistent not only with SD scores being an indicator of coarctation of experience as a coping mechanism, but also (at least for younger persons) perhaps a risk factor for the psychobiological dysfunctions associated with chronic elevations of cortisol.
