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Cited by 730Stress Responses and CortisolAdrenal Hormones and DisordersEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Consistent sex differences in cortisol responses to psychological stress.

Kirschbaum, C, Wüst, S, Hellhammer, D·1992·Psychosomatic Medicine
DOI 10.1097/00006842-199211000-00004
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Abstract

In four independent studies, sex differences in cortisol responses to psychological stress were investigated in healthy adolescents and adults (total n = 153). Public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of an audience (Studies 1-3) reliably induced increases in free cortisol levels in both sexes with 2- to 4-fold increases above baseline levels. Mean cortisol responses were 1.5- to 2-fold higher in men compared with women. In Study 3, cortisol profiles were additionally investigated after human corticotropin-releasing hormone (h-CRH) and bicycle ergometry until exhaustion. Here, both sexes showed very similar adrenocortical responses. Furthermore, men showed elevated cortisol levels in anticipation of the psychological stress situation without actually having to perform the tasks (Study 4). Under this condition cortisol concentration was unchanged or decreased in women. From these data we conclude that the observed sex difference does not reflect an overall lower responsiveness of the female adrenal cortex. Although these studies do not provide conclusive data, we suggest sex differences in cognitive and/or emotional responses to distressing psychosocial situations which in turn may influence cortisol secretion.

Overview

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Crossref · 10.1097/00006842-199211000-00004

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45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Metadata

Authors
Kirschbaum, C., Wüst, S., & Hellhammer, D.
Affiliations
Universität Trier (DE)
ORCID
Venue
Psychosomatic Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
1992-11
Volume
54
Issue
6
Pages
648-657
ISSN
0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/00006842-199211000-00004
OpenAlex
W1978823883
Cited by
730
References
45
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 21 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 45 · 2018: 32 · 2017: 36 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 38 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 31 · 2012: 29
FWCI
3.14
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
sex differences, cortisol, psychological stress, adrenocortical response, public speaking, mental arithmetic, anticipatory stress, corticotropin-releasing factor, cycle ergometry, psychosocial stress
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Arousal, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Reference Values, Saliva, Sex Factors, Social Environment, Stress, Psychological, Verbal Behavior

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