The role of sex and gender role self-concept in stress reactivity: Evidence from the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST)

AIM: To investigate biological sex and gender role self-concept in stress reactivity, utilizing the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G). METHOD: A sample of 175 participants (56 % women, M = 39.2 years, SD = 12.5) underwent the TSST-G. Subjective and biological stress indicators (salivary cortisol sCort) and sex hormones (estradiol, testosterone) were assessed. Gender role self-concept (Bem Sex Role Inventory), in particular agency (stereotypically associated with masculinity), and biological sex were considered. RESULTS: Women reported higher subjective stress, whereas men had a steeper increase in sCort levels throughout the TSST-G. Results suggest lower subjective stress responses in more agentic people, independently of sex. Agency was not associated with sCort levels. Exploratory analyses revealed no interaction between agency and sex hormones. CONCLUSION: Our study identified correlations between gender role self-concept and subjective stress in a large, non-student sample. The data confirm associations of biological sex with sCort response.