Heterogeneity in individuals' physiological stress responses is central to theories linking stress with vulnerability to disease. Although multiple cortisol profiles have been reported in response to acute psychological stress, most prior work focuses on a single, average pattern and relative deviations from it, such as greater or lesser response peaks or reactivity. The present aims were to identify cortisol stress response trajectory classes using a data-driven approach and test whether social-evaluative threat (SET), a reliable elicitor of cortisol, predicted a greater likelihood of membership in the more reactive profiles. Data were pooled from 13 acute laboratory stressor studies from two geographically distinct U.S. university communities. Participants included 1,258 adults ranging from 18 to 52 years (Mage = 20.5; 62% women; 38% men) with diverse racial/ethnic identities and socioeconomic statuses. Studies included a version of the Trier Social Stress Test and at least three salivary cortisol assessments. SET was tested in three ways: study conditions with evaluators present, perceptions of evaluation, and ratings of shame-related emotions. Latent group-based trajectory modeling was applied to identify cortisol response patterns that best fit the data. Results revealed five unique cortisol response profiles. Consistent with hypotheses, SET conditions, greater perceived evaluation, and greater shame-related emotions predicted membership in the most reactive response trajectories. The findings highlight the high degree of heterogeneity that characterizes cortisol stress response profiles, which has important implications for theories of stress and health and methodological approaches in future research. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

中文翻译：

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皮质醇概况的社会评价威胁在应对心理社会压力中的作用：以人为本的方法。


个体生理应激反应的异质性是将压力与疾病易感性联系起来的理论的核心。尽管已经报道了针对急性心理压力的多种皮质醇分布，但大多数先前的工作都集中在单一的平均模式及其相对偏差，例如更大或更小的反应峰值或反应性。目前的目标是使用数据驱动的方法来识别皮质醇压力反应轨迹类别，并测试社会评价威胁（SET）（可靠的皮质醇引发剂）是否预测出更具反应性的个人资料中的成员资格的可能性更大。数据汇集于来自两个地理位置不同的美国大学社区的 13 项急性实验室压力源研究。参与者包括 1,258 名年龄在 18 岁至 52 岁之间的成年人（法师 = 20.5；女性 62%；男性 38%），他们具有不同的种族/民族身份和社会经济地位。研究包括特里尔社会压力测试和至少三项唾液皮质醇评估。 SET 通过三种方式进行测试：有评估者在场的研究条件、评估的看法以及与羞耻相关的情绪的评级。应用基于潜在组的轨迹建模来识别最适合数据的皮质醇反应模式。结果揭示了五种独特的皮质醇反应特征。与假设一致，SET 条件、更大的感知评估和更大的羞耻相关情绪预测了最反应性反应轨迹的成员资格。研究结果强调了皮质醇应激反应特征的高度异质性，这对压力与健康理论以及未来研究的方法学方法具有重要意义。 （PsycInfo 数据库记录 (c) 2024 APA，保留所有权利）。