Randomized controlled evaluation of the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management on cortisol responses to acute stress in healthy subjects
Abstract
Psychosocial stress is a potent activator of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. While neuroendocrine stress responses are essential for the maintenance of homeostasis, evidence suggests that excessive activation of the HPA axis constitutes a risk for disease and psychopathology. The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of cognitive-behavioral stress management training on endocrine stress responses and cognitive appraisal under acute psychosocial stress among healthy young subjects. Forty-eight healthy, non-smoking male students without acute or chronic medical or psychiatric disorder on self report were randomly assigned to receive group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management training either before or after a standardized psychosocial stress test (Trier Social Stress Test, TSST). Endocrine and psychological stress responses were assessed with salivary free cortisol response and cognitive appraisal processes to the TSST. In comparison with the control group, subjects in the treatment group showed an attenuated endocrine response (F (2.55/117.41) = 3.81; P = 0.02; effect size f(2) = 0.35) to the TSST. In addition, subjects in the SIT group had lower stress appraisal and higher control expectancies (F (2/45) = 6.56; P = 0.003, effect size f(2) = 0.29) compared to controls. Short group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management training reduces the neuroendocrine stress response to an acute stressor in healthy subjects. Therefore, stress management training may prove useful in preventing detrimental effects of stress-induced neuroendocrine activation
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After 4 months of transcendental meditation practice in young men, basal cortisol concentration was decreased, but basal testosterone concentration was unchanged.
“One study reported that after 4 months of transcendental Meditation practice in young men, basal cortisol concentration was decreased, but basal testosterone concentration was unchanged (Gaab et al., 2003).”
From Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males (2024) · cites this paper as Gaab et al., 2003
Previous studies found basal cortisol concentrations decreased after months of transcendental meditation or years of tai chi, but basal testosterone concentrations were unchanged.
“previous studies have found basal cortisol concentrations decreased after months of transcendental meditation (Gaab et al., 2003), or years of tai chi (Booth et al., 1989), but basal testosterone concentrations were unchanged.”
From Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males (2024) · cites this paper as Gaab et al., 2003
Expectancy may play a role in the regulation of the cortisol response to stress.
“Previous research also provided support for the idea that expectancy may play a role in the regulation of the cortisol response to stress (Gaab et al., 2003;Gaab et al., 2005;Ursin and Eriksen, 2010).”
From Cortisol Response to Stress: The Role of Expectancy and Anticipatory Stress Regulation (2020) · cites this paper as Gaab et al., 2003
Increasing expectations and anticipatory cognitive appraisal leads to better regulation of the stress-induced cortisol response.
“This result is in line with previous studies showing that increasing expectations and anticipatory cognitive appraisal leads to better regulation of the stress-induced cortisol response (Gaab et al., 2003;Salzmann et al., 2018).”
From Cortisol Response to Stress: The Role of Expectancy and Anticipatory Stress Regulation (2020) · cites this paper as Gaab et al., 2003
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- Authors
- Gaab, J., Blättler, N., Menzi, T., Pabst, B., Stoyer, S., & Ehlert, U.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Gaab, J.
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-08
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 767-779
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2147606427
- Semantic Scholar
- 88acee67d6c648dc0afd2d30b4cffbf5e6881a2b
- Cited by
- 309
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 4.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Keywords
- cognitive-behavioral stress management, acute psychosocial stress, salivary cortisol, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, Trier Social Stress Test, stress appraisal, stress management training, healthy young men, neuroendocrine stress response
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Analysis of Variance, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Psychometrics, Psychotherapy, Group, Saliva, Self-Assessment, Stress, Psychological, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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