The DOI matches its Crossref record; 99 of the 100 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Sex differences in stress responses: social rejection versus achievement stress
Abstract
Background Sex differences in stress responses may be one mechanism underlying gender differences in depression. We hypothesized that men and women would show different adrenocortical responses to different stressors. In particular, we predicted that women would show greater responses to social rejection stressors, whereas men would demonstrate greater responses to achievement stressors.Methods Following a rest session in which they habituated to the laboratory, 50 healthy volunteers (24 men and 26 women, mean age 19.1, SD = 1.13) were randomly assigned to achievement or rejection stress conditions. The achievement condition involved a mathematical and a verbal challenge; the rejection condition involved two social interaction challenges. Self-reported affect and salivary cortisol were measured throughout each stress session (baseline, stress, and poststress periods).Results There were no sex differences in mood ratings following the stressors; however, cortisol responses showed the predicted gender by condition by time interaction. Men showed significantly greater cortisol responses to the achievement challenges, but women showed greater cortisol responses to the social rejection challenges.Conclusions Women appear more physiologically reactive to social rejection challenges, but men react more to achievement challenges. Women's greater reactivity to rejection stress may contribute to the increased rates of affective disorders in women.
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“sexual dimorphism in both the HPA axis response to psychosocial stress [48,49]”
From The Effect of Music on the Human Stress Response (2013) · cites this paper as [49]
In the citing paper
“whereas women show larger HPA activation in situations involving social rejection (Stroud et al., 2002; see also Ennis et al., 2001)”
From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Stroud et al., 2002
In the citing paper
“Men often show larger HPA activation than women in achievement-related tasks (which may elicit status-related motives)”
From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Stroud et al., 2002
In the citing paper
“the Yale Interpersonal Stressor, a standardized social rejection paradigm (Stroud, TanofskyKraff, Wilfley, & Salovey, 2000; Stroud, Salovey, & Epel, 2002).”
From Acute intranasal oxytocin improves positive self-perceptions of personality (2012) · cites this paper as Stroud, Salovey, & Epel, 2002
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Metadata
- Authors
- Stroud, L. R., Salovey, P., & Epel, E. S.
- Affiliations
- Brown University (US)
- Yale University (US)
- University of California, San Francisco (US)
- Corresponding author
- Stroud, Laura R
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2002-08
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 318-327
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2024158767
- Cited by
- 797
- References
- 100
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 33 · 2021: 39 · 2020: 39 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 45 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 47 · 2013: 47 · 2012: 35
- FWCI
- 4.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR000125, RR00125)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- sex differences, stress response, social rejection, salivary cortisol, adrenocortical reactivity, gender differences in depression, mood disorders, mood, stress hormones
- MeSH terms
- Achievement, Adolescent, Adrenal Cortex, Adult, Affect, Arousal, Female, Gender Identity, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Rejection, Psychology, Saliva, Stress, Psychological
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