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

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.