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The role of sex and gender role self-concept in stress reactivity: evidence from the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

Aim - To investigate biological sex and gender role self-concept in stress reactivity, utilizing the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G). - Method - A sample of 175 participants (56% women, M = 39.2 years, SD = 12.5) underwent the TSST-G. Subjective and biological stress indicators (salivar...

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Main Authors: Zintel, Stephanie (Author) , Schmidt, Laura (Author) , Neubauer, Andreas B. (Author) , Stoffel, Martin (Author) , Rafiee, Yasaman (Author) , Ditzen, Beate (Author) , Sieverding, Monika (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: August 2025
In: Psychoneuroendocrinology
Year: 2025, Volume: 178, Pages: 1-10
ISSN:1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107480
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107480
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453025002033
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Author Notes:Stephanie Zintel, Laura I. Schmidt, Andreas B. Neubauer, Martin Stoffel, Yasaman Rafiee, Beate Ditzen, Monika Sieverding
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Summary:Aim - To investigate biological sex and gender role self-concept in stress reactivity, utilizing the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G). - Method - A sample of 175 participants (56% women, M = 39.2 years, SD = 12.5) underwent the TSST-G. Subjective and biological stress indicators (salivary cortisol sCort) and sex hormones (estradiol, testosterone) were assessed. Gender role self-concept (Bem Sex Role Inventory), in particular agency (stereotypically associated with masculinity), and biological sex were considered. - Results - Women reported higher subjective stress, whereas men had a steeper increase in sCort levels throughout the TSST-G. Results suggest lower subjective stress responses in more agentic people, independently of sex. Agency was not associated with sCort levels. Exploratory analyses revealed no interaction between agency and sex hormones. - Conclusion - Our study identified correlations between gender role self-concept and subjective stress in a large, non-student sample. The data confirm associations of biological sex with sCort response.
Item Description:Online verfügbar: 4. Mai 2025, Artikelversion: 13. Mai 2025
Gesehen am 21.08.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107480

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