Salivary cortisol responses to a psychosocial laboratory stressor and later verbal recall of the stressor: The role of trait and state rumination

Abstract

This study investigated whether trait rumination predicts greater increases in salivary cortisol concentration and delayed recovery in response to a standardized, acute laboratory psychosocial stressor (modified Trier Social Stress Test). It also tested whether trait and state rumination predict reactivation of the cortisol response during later verbal recall of the stressor. Fifty-nine undergraduates (31 females; 28 males) completed the stress protocol and returned 2 weeks later for a surprise interview about the first session, conducted in either a supportive or unsupportive context. Participants completed a measure of trait rumination and reported negative thoughts about the stressor in the 2 weeks between sessions (state rumination). Trait rumination was associated with greater reactivity of salivary cortisol level and delayed recovery from the stressor, F(1,310) = 6.77, p < 0.001. It also predicted greater cortisol reactivity when recalling the stressor, but only for males in the unsupportive interview context, F(2,119) = 7.53, p < 0.001. This effect was heightened for males who also scored high on state rumination, F(2,119) = 7.53, p < 0.001. Rumination was not associated with cortisol responses to the interviews in females. The findings indicate that rumination may play a role in prolonging cortisol stress responses through delayed recovery and reactivation and that rumination disposition and the context of stressor recall are important in understanding the rumination-cortisol response association.

Assessing the relationship between rumination and cortisol: A review

“…In addition, morning cortisol awakening responses were greater for those who reported ruminating the day before, compared to those who did not ruminate [33]. In contrast, of the nine studies that tested associations between trait rumination and cortisol concentrations ( Table 2), only two reported positive associations [28,34]. Of the remaining seven studies, one found a negative association [17], three reported no associations [27,33,35], and three found mixed associations (positive and null [36,37] or negative and null [38,39]) between trait rumination and cortisol outcomes.…”

“…Specifically, cortisol concentrations were higher for those with greater rumination on stressful laboratory tasks [17,28,30,31] or recent interpersonal transgressions [32]. In addition, morning cortisol awakening responses were greater for those who reported ruminating the day before, compared to those who did not ruminate [33].…”

“…Distinguishing between trait and state measures is important because trait questionnaires have had limited success in predicting individual differences in stressor-specific rumination following challenging laboratory tasks [17,[26][27][28]. The lack of an association between trait and state rumination could arise because certain situations may overwhelm established coping strategies [29].…”

Psychoendocrine validation of a short measure for assessment of perceived stress management skills in different non-clinical populations

“…Our findings of significant associations between blunted cortisol reactivity and higher ISBF total scores are in line with previous research. They positively relate to psychological concepts that have been associated with lower cortisol stress reactivity, such as lower levels in psychological stress reactivity (as measured by the Stress-Reactivity Scale, (P. Schulz et al, 2005), higher perceived social support (Seeman and McEwen, 1996;Wirtz et al, 2009), and lower rumination as measured by the Irritation Scale (Zoccola et al, 2010). Also, relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation have been shown to acutely decrease activity of stress-response systems, thus possibly preparing for either active stress management or regeneration (Cruess et al, 2000;Jones, 2002, 2005).…”

Depressed adolescents' pupillary response to peer acceptance and rejection: The role of rumination

“…Specifically, rumination has been linked with greater cortisol reactivity and delayed recovery in response to social stress and rejection in adults [15,16,17]; and cardiovascular reactivity to interpersonal stress in children [18]. Therefore, depressed adolescents' higher on trait rumination may be more negatively impacted by peer feedback as the tendency to perseverate on past social 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 RUMINATION AND PUPILLARY RESPONSE 5 interactions places them at greater risk for a longer and more severe course of depression.…”