SEX-SPECIFIC EFFECTS OF SOCIAL SUPPORT ON CORTISOL AND SUBJECTIVE RESPONSES TO ACUTE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

The effects of short-term social support on cortisol levels and subjec tive responses to acute psychological stress were investigated in heal thy adults (total N = 66). In anticipation of a public-speaking task i n front of an audience, subjects received either no social support ('' no support'') or social support from an opposite-sex stranger (''stran ger'') or from their boyfriend or girlfriend (''partner''). Support pr oviders were instructed to enact both instrumental and emotional suppo rt during the 10-minute anticipation period. The results obtained sugg est sex-specific effects of social support. Although men in the partne r support condition showed significant attenuation of cortisol respons es compared with unsupported and stranger-supported men, women showed no response decrement under stranger support. In contrast to men, wome n showed a tendency toward increased cortisol responses when supported by their boyfriends. The endocrine response differences between male and female subjects were unrelated to questionnaire-derived psychologi cal variables. No sex and group differences in perceived stress, mood changes, or social desirability were observed. Although the overall le vel of subjective well-being throughout the experiment was elevated in the partner support condition, no sex or group differences were obser ved in perceived stress, well-being changes, and social desirability. Opposite to their cortisol responses, women rated both stranger and pa rtner support attempts more favorably than did men. No significant cor relations were observed between the perceived stressfulness of the sit uation, mood changes, and cortisol responses. These results provide pr eliminary evidence for sex-specific patterns of social support efficac y to acute psychological stress with respect to adrenocortical respons es.