Publication Date
10-25-2025
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Physiology and Behavior
Volume
304
DOI
10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115146
Abstract
Negative life events are associated with the development of psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress symptoms. Evidence suggests that individual differences in stress response system activity may alter susceptibility to psychological distress for those with exposure to negative life events. In particular, women experience greater levels of psychological distress than men. Given that emerging adulthood is characterized by stressful, significant life transitions that may constitute risks for psychological distress, this study examined whether hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and gender influenced the link between negative life events and psychological distress among emerging adults. Participants ( N = 176; mean age = 19.03, 55 % women) self-reported negative life events during emerging adulthood and current depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress symptoms. HPA-axis activity was indexed by cortisol reactivity in response to a psychosocial stress task measured using the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUCg) and increase (AUCi). Regression analyses revealed a significant three-way interaction between negative life events, cortisol reactivity, and gender in predicting traumatic stress symptoms. Specifically, the association between negative life events and traumatic stress symptoms was stronger among women with lower levels of AUCg cortisol reactivity. Moreover, significant two-way interactions emerged between AUCi cortisol reactivity and gender in predicting depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress symptoms. Lower levels of cortisol reactivity were more strongly associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and traumatic stress symptoms only among women, but not among men. These findings highlight the importance of utilizing a biopsychosocial approach in understanding the development of psychological distress.
Keywords
Anxiety, Cortisol reactivity, Depression, Gender, Negative life event, Traumatic stress
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Li Shen Chong, Teresa Mejia, Kate L. Senich, Christy L. Olezeski, and Elana B. Gordis. "The Interactive Effects of Negative Life Events, Cortisol Reactivity, and Gender on Psychological Distress Among Emerging Adults" Physiology and Behavior (2025). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115146
