Cited by 112Primate Behavior and EcologyStress Responses and CortisolEvolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior

Sex, social status and physiological stress in primates: the importance of social and glucocorticoid dynamics

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Cavigelli, Sonia A., Caruso, Michael J.·2015·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Abstract

Social status has been associated with health consequences, although the mechanisms by which status affects health are relatively unknown. At the physiological level, many studies have investigated the potential relationship between social behaviour/rank and physiological stress, with a particular focus on glucocorticoid (GC) production. GCs are of interest because of their experimentally established influence on health-related processes such as metabolism and immune function. Studies in a variety of species, in both naturalistic and laboratory settings, have led to complex outcomes. This paper reviews findings from primates and rodents and proposes a psychologically and physiologically relevant framework in which to study the relationship between social status and GC function. We (i) compare status-specific GC production between male and female primates, (ii) review the functional significance of different temporal patterns of GC production, (iii) propose ways to assess these temporal dynamics, and (iv) present novel hypotheses about the relationship between social status and GC temporal dynamics, and potential fitness and health implications. To understand whether GC production mediates social status-related fitness disparities, we must consider social contest conditions and the temporal dynamics of GC production. This framework will provide greater insights into the relationship between social status, physiological stress and health.

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Crossref · 10.1098/rstb.2014.0103

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  • Plasma glucocorticoid levels across vertebrates are higher in dominant animals during periods of particularly intense competitive interactions between dominant animals such as during high reproductive competition or food shortage.

    “studies that have demonstrated that plasma glucocorticoid levels across vertebrates are higher in dominant animals during periods of particularly intense competitive interactions between dominant animals such as during high reproductive competition or food shortage [7,38–43].”

    From Rapid changes in plasma corticosterone and medial amygdala transcriptome profiles during social status change reveal molecular pathways associated with a major life history transition in mouse dominance hierarchies (2025) · cites this paper as [39]

    Section 2 reports that dominant male primates often produce as much or more glucocorticoids than subordinates, particularly during social instability, but it also describes an opposite pattern in females and substantial exceptions. The paper does not establish the claimed pattern across vertebrates or specifically for plasma levels during reproductive competition or food shortage; its discussion of acute elevations during competition is partly predictive. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. van Schaik CP. 1989 The ecology of social relationships among female primates. In Comparative socioecology: the behavioural ecology of humans and other animals (eds V Standen, FA Foley), pp. 195-218. Oxford, UK: Blackwell Scientific Press.

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Authors
Cavigelli, S. A., & Caruso, M. J.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
Corresponding author
Cavigelli, Sonia A.
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Published
2015-05-26
Volume
370
Issue
1669
Pages
20140103
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
OpenAlex
W2113262536
Cited by
112
References
154
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 4
FWCI
1.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Keywords
social status, social rank, glucocorticoids, physiological stress, primates, sex differences, health and fitness, rodent models, stress hormones
MeSH terms
Animals, Female, Glucocorticoids, Male, Primates, Sex Characteristics, Social Behavior, Social Dominance, Stress, Physiological

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