Cortisol Recovery Differs Among Sexual and Gender Diverse Couples Compared With Cisgender Heterosexual Couples

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Social Psychology
• Stress and Health Research

Background:

• Positive romantic relationships are associated with improved physical health through stress buffering mechanisms.
• The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is commonly used to study couples' cortisol responses to stress.
• Previous research has primarily focused on the stress-exposed individual, often overlooking the support partner's physiological responses and the experiences of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) couples.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate cortisol reactivity and recovery in both stress-exposed and support-providing partners within couples.
• To examine the influence of sex, gender, and sexual orientation on stress responses within couples.
• To compare the stress recovery of sexual and gender diverse (SGD) couples with cisgender heterosexual couples.

Main Methods:

• A laboratory study involving 101 couples (N=202), including 42 SGD couples.
• One partner underwent the TSST while the other provided support.
• Salivary cortisol samples were collected from both partners seven times, alongside anxiety and sociodemographic measures.

Main Results:

• Male sex predicted higher cortisol reactivity in stress-exposed individuals; female sex predicted higher cortisol secretion in support partners.
• No significant differences in cortisol output were found among stress-exposed participants based on gender or sexual orientation subgroups.
• Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) couples exhibited lower cortisol secretion post-TSST compared to cisgender heterosexual couples.

Conclusions:

• Observed sex differences in cortisol responses highlight distinct roles for stress-exposed individuals and support partners.
• Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) couples may derive particular advantages from partner support in stress recovery, potentially exceeding those of cisgender heterosexual couples.