Trait and state rumination interact to prolong cortisol activation to psychosocial stress in females. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shull, Alexa; Mayer, Stefanie E.; McGinnis, Ellen; Geiss, Elisa; Vargas, Ivan; Lopez-Duran, Nestor L.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 74(2016:Dec.)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 332
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Salivary cortisol -- Rumination -- Distraction -- Gender -- TSST -- Stress response; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.09.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: We examined the impact of trait and state rumination on HPA responses to the TSST. Trait rumination and experimental condition interacted to predict HPA responses. Females high trait ruminators had prolonged cortisol activation when asked to ruminate. Low trait ruminators did not differ by condition (rumination vs. distraction). This highlights the complex relationship between rumination and HPA-axis activity. Abstract: There is a growing realization that cognitive processes associated with stress coping, such as rumination and distraction, can impact the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis (HPA-axis). Yet, little is known about what aspects of the HPA-axis stress response (rate of activation, duration of activation, rate of recovery) is impacted by such cognitive processes. This study examines the impact of both ruminative trait tendencies and experimentally induced rumination on salivary cortisol responses to a social evaluative stress task. Participants ( n = 71) were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and were then randomized to complete either a rumination or distraction task. Trait rumination was also assessed at baseline. Results showed no main effects of either trait rumination or experimental condition, but they interacted to predict the cortisol response. Specifically, participants high in trait rumination had prolonged duration of cortisol activation in the rumination condition, compared to those in the distraction condition. In contrast, cortisol responses of participants with low trait rumination did not differ by condition. Notably, our interaction effect was only significant in females. Our findings highlight the complex relationship between rumination and HPA-axis activity, suggesting an interaction of trait and state rumination in shaping HPA-axis responses to stress, and call attention to sex differences in this relationship.