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RESEARCH PRODUCT

The moderating role of meaning in life in the relationship between perceived stress and diurnal cortisol.

Matias M. PulopulosMalgorzata W. Kozusznik

subject

MaleSALIVARY CORTISOLMARITAL-STATUSHydrocortisonePhysiologySocial Sciences050109 social psychologyPersonal SatisfactionDevelopmental psychologyBehavioral Neuroscience0302 clinical medicineStress (linguistics)Cortisol levelmedia_common05 social sciencesWOMENPerceived stressMiddle AgedCircadian RhythmCOMMUNITYmeaning in lifePsychiatry and Mental healthNeuropsychology and Physiological PsychologySECRETIONPositive relationshipFemaleHEALTHPsychologyGoalsAdultAdolescentmedia_common.quotation_subjectdiurnal cortisol levelsCOGNITIVE PERFORMANCEEVENTS03 medical and health sciencesYoung AdultAWAKENING RESPONSEPerceptionIndependent samplesHumans0501 psychology and cognitive sciencesMeaning (existential)SalivaEndocrine and Autonomic SystemsHPA axisPURPOSEdiurnal cortisol slopeSocioeconomic FactorsQuality of Life030217 neurology & neurosurgeryStress PsychologicalForecastingPsychophysiology

description

Previous studies have suggested that meaning in life may buffer the negative effects of stress. This study is the first to investigate the moderating role of meaning in life in the relationship between the perception of stress and diurnal cortisol in two independent samples of healthy adults. In study 1 (n = 172, men = 82, women = 90, age range = 21-55 years, mean age = 37.58 years), the results of moderated regression analyses revealed that there was a significant positive relationship between overall perceived stress in the past month and both diurnal cortisol levels (area-under-the-curve with respect to the ground; AUCg) and the diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) only in individuals with low levels of meaning in life conceptualized as the degree to which one engages in activities that are personally valued and important. In study 2 (n = 259, men = 125, women = 134, age range = 18-54 years, mean age = 29.06 years), we found a non-significant interaction term between meaning in life conceptualized as having goals and a sense of excitement regarding one's future and perception of stress in a model of both adjusted AUCg and DCS. The results were independent of age, sex, body mass index, education, and race. The results shed light on the importance and the complexity of the construct of meaning in life and offer a possible explanation for why some people who face stressors may be more vulnerable than others to developing stress-related health problems. ispartof: Stress vol:21 issue:3 pages:203-210 ispartof: location:England status: published

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2018-01-26Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
10.1080/10253890.2018.1429397https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29373936