M. Ennis et al., Sex differences in cortisol excretion during anticipation of a psychological stressor: possible support for the tend-and-befriend hypothesis, STRESS HEAL, 17(4), 2001, pp. 253-261
The present experiment tested the hypothesis that differential neuroendocri
ne elicitation is prompted by subjects' cognitive expectations of an antici
pated stressor. Subjects making a 'threat appraisal' of an academic examina
tion were predicted to have increased hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)
activation, while activation was expected to be unchanged in subjects makin
g a 'challenge appraisal.' Self-reported anxiety in relation to these varia
bles was also examined. HPA activation was assessed by urinary cortisol at
baseline (at least 1 week before the examination) and at. pre-test (immedia
tely before the examination). Contrary to the hypothesis, there was an unex
pected sex x time interaction that was particularly robust in subjects maki
ng a challenge appraisal. Males in the challenge appraisal group had a sign
ificant increase in cortisol excretion from baseline to pre-test, with grea
ter reported anxiety than the threat appraisal group. In contrast, females
had a decrease in cortisol excretion that was significant for only the chal
lenge appraisal group, although reported anxiety between the challenge and
threat groups was not different, Results may support the recent proposition
that the female stress response has evolved differently than that of males
, or they may reflect sex differences in production of corticosteroid-bindi
ng globulin. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.