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Unpacking cortisol stress reactivity: Associations with psychological state and trait data in a pooled data sample
Dimitra Arsenia Barmpari1, Conny W E M Quaedflieg2, Stella D Voulgaropoulou3
1Department of Psychiatry & Neuropsychology, Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs) Research Institute, Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, Maastricht 6211 LK, the Netherlands.
Psychoneuroendocrinology
|September 5, 2025
Summary
Cortisol stress reactivity is subtly linked to psychological states, not traits. This finding suggests stress responses emerge from many small factors, not one dominant psychological cause.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Stress Physiology
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Cortisol stress reactivity is influenced by complex experimental, biological, and psychological factors.
- Understanding the psychological contribution requires controlling other variables.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if psychological state and trait data alone can explain cortisol stress reactivity.
- To investigate associations between cortisol responses and psychological variables under controlled conditions.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from five studies (n=443) using the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MASTEXP) or control (MASTPLC).
- Calculated cortisol reactivity metrics (peak, turnover, responder classifications).
- Used LASSO regression to analyze associations with momentary affect (PANAS), traits (BIS/BAS), and other variables.
Main Results:
- Decreases in positive affect were modestly linked to cortisol reactivity metrics.
- Negative affect showed significant association with only one metric.
- Trait-level approach and avoidance tendencies were not significantly associated with cortisol reactivity.
Conclusions:
- Cortisol stress reactivity associations with psychological data are subtle and metric-dependent.
- Findings support the hypothesis that cortisol stress reactivity arises from diverse, small contributions rather than a single psychological factor.
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