A time to be stressed? Time perspectives and cortisol dynamics among healthy adults
Lening A Olivera-Figueroa1, Robert-Paul Juster2, Julie Katia Morin-Major3
1Center for Studies on Human Stress, Fernand-Seguin Research Centre-Montreal Mental Health University Institute, 7401, Hochelaga Street, Montreal, Quebec H1N 3M5, Canada; University of Montreal-Department of Psychiatry, Pavillon Roger-Gaudry, C.P. 6128, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3J7, Canada; Yale University School of Medicine-Department of Psychiatry, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT 06511, United States.
Abstract:
Perceptions of past, present, and future events may be related to stress pathophysiology. We assessed whether Time Perspective (TP) is associated with cortisol dynamics among healthy adults (N=61, Ages=18-35, M=22.9, SD=4.1) exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). TP was measured according to two profiles: maladaptive Deviation from Balanced TP (DBTP) and adaptive Deviation from Negative TP (DNTP). Eight salivary cortisol samples were analyzed using area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) and to increase (AUCi). Statistic analyses involved partial correlations controlling for depressive symptoms. Results for both sexes showed that higher DBTP scores were associated with lower cortisol AUCg scores, while higher DNTP scores were associated with higher cortisol AUCg scores. These novel findings suggest that maladaptive TP profiles influence hypocortisolism, whereas adaptive TP profiles influence hypercortisolism. Thus, TP profiles may impact conditions characterized by altered cortisol concentrations.
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