Rejection sensitivity relates to hypocortisolism and depressed mood state in young women

Abstract

Rejection sensitivity relates to hypocortisolism and depressed mood state in young women Tops, Mattie; Riese, Harriette; Oldehinkel, Albertine J.; Rijsdijk, Fruehling V.; Ormel, Johan SummaryRejection sensitivity and the associated fear of negative social evaluation (FNSE) trait are characteristics of hypocortisolemic syndromes such as atypical depression. However, a meta-analysis showed that acute FNSE evokes strong cortisol responses in humans. This is consistent with suggestions that hypocortisolism reflects a protective adaptation to a history of high cortisol responses. This leads us to hypothesize that measures of trait FNSE relate to hypocortisolism. Moreover, because FNSE relates positively to depressed mood state, but negatively to cortisol, we expect that the positive relationship between depressed mood state and cortisol will show up most clearly when controlling for the confounding effect of FNSE on this relationship. In the present study we measured salivary cortisol awakening response and psychological variables in 194 community women aged 18-30 years. The results confirmed our hypotheses. We propose that dispositional FNSE is associated with a history of frequent high cortisol responses, leading to long-term protective inhibition of further cortisol and energy mobilization. The present results have special relevance for mental health problems that have high prevalence among young women.

Biological Stress Regulation in Female Adolescents: A Key Role for Confiding

“…In this study, the relationship between a smaller CAR and fear of rejection was hypothesized and in 20 line with previous studies (Oskis et al, 2011;Quirin et al, 2008;Tops et al, 2008).…”

“…There is also evidence linking attachment anxiety to reduced cell concentration in the left hippocampus, which may underpin aberrant HPA axis function in those with anxious attachment (Quirin, Gillath, Pruessner, & Eggert, 2010). Relatedly, rejection sensitivity and the associated fear of negative social evaluation have been shown to predict a flatter CAR in women (Tops, Riese, Oldehinkel, Rijsdijk, & Ormel, 2008).…”

The role of awakening cortisol and psychological distress in diurnal variations in affect: A day reconstruction study.

“…More precisely, if cortisol can cause an increase in feelings of energy and reinvigorate fatigued people (e.g. Tops, van Peer, Wijers, & Korf, 2006;Tops, Riese, Oldehinkel, Rijsdijk, & Ormel, 2008), then large individual differences in the volume of cortisol upon awakening may invoke divergent patterns of affect in the initial part of the day.…”

Souffrance au travail, répression psychique et troubles musculo-squelettiques

“…74 La responsabilité de cette baisse de la réponse en cortisol est évoquée dans l'apparition de multiples phénomènes pathologiques : douleurs diffuses (McBeth, 2005 ;McBeth, 2007 ;Tops, 2008), syndrome de fatigue chronique, fibromyalgie, troubles somatoformes ou troubles fonctionnels somatiques (Heim, 2000 ;Rief, 2010 ;Pukhalsky, 2008 ;Tak, 2010 ;Riva, 2010 ;Tak, 2011 77 Judith Gold (2006) fournit aussi des éléments en faveur de cette thèse. Elle met en évidence, chez les ouvriers de l'automobile, une relation entre le seuil de la douleur à la pression, évalué sur douze zones du corps, et la présence d'un trouble musculosquelettique des membres supérieurs.…”

“…C'est l'effet du cortisol sur l'ensemble des tissus qui est potentiellement réduit, même si le phénomène s'installe de façon différenciée selon les organes (Hellhammer, 2009). Cette résistance au cortisol est considérée comme un moyen de protection contre la charge que représente le maintien de la réponse biologique au stress (Heim, 1998 ;Hellhammer, 2004 ;Fries, 2005 ;Tops, 2008). Seulement le cortisol n'intervient pas uniquement comme un facteur de mobilisation des ressources nécessaires pour faire face au stress, il exerce aussi un effet protecteur contre certaines des conséquences du stress, en particulier contre l'inflammation (Munck, 1986 ;McEwen, 1999 ;.…”