This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wirtz, P. H. Articles by Ehlert, U. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wirtz, P. H. Articles by Ehlert, U. Related Collections Neuroendocrine Personality Stress and Coping

Perfectionism and the Cortisol Response to Psychosocial Stress in Men

From the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (P.H.W., L.E., K.R., S.G., U.E.), Psychological Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Medical Psychology (S.E.), University Clinic of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Petra H. Wirtz, Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14, Box 26, CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland. E-mail: p.wirtz{at}psychologie.unizh.ch

Objective: To test the hypothesis that perfectionism is an important moderator of the neuroendocrine stress response, with higher perfectionism predicting increased neuroendocrine activation.

Methods: A total of 50 middle-aged men underwent an acute standardized psychosocial stress task (Trier Social Stress Test). Perfectionism, cognitive appraisal of the stressful situation, trait anxiety, and various personality characteristics were assessed with questionnaires. Salivary cortisol, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine, blood pressure, and heart rate were analyzed before and after stress. Circadian profiles of cortisol secretion during the day and in response to awakening were analyzed to assess basal activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of the neuroendocrine stress response.

Results: Perfectionism was significantly associated with area under the total response curve with respect to increase (AUCi) of cortisol (r = 0.322, p = .046), but not with AUCi of norepinephrine (r = –0.217, p = .152) or AUCi of epinephrine (r = 0.116, p = .477). Hence, AUCi of cortisol was the main criterion. As possible predictors, trait anxiety, neuroticism, vital exhaustion, secondary appraisal, depression, and openness were considered. Regression analyses demonstrated that only perfectionism (ß = 0.45, p = .002) and secondary appraisal (ß = 0.50, p = .001) were independent predictors of AUCi of cortisol, the final model explaining 45% of the total variance in cortisol response (R² = 0.45, "shrunken" R² [sR²] = 0.38); perfectionism alone accounted for 18% of this variance (R² = 0.18, sR² = 0.19).

Conclusion: The typical cognitions, and presumably the associated emotions, of perfectionists seem to contribute independently to stress-induced bodily responses, including HPA axis activation, in response to psychosocial stress.

Key Words: perfectionism • psychosocial stress • stress hormones • cortisol • personality • public speaking stress

Abbreviations: HPA = hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; TSST = Trier Social Stress Test; AUC = area under the curve; HR = heart rate; BP = blood pressure; PASA = primary appraisal secondary appraisal; MPS = Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale; CMD = concern over mistakes and doubts.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. McGirr and G. Turecki SELF-CRITICAL PERFECTIONISM IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASES IN SYMPATHETIC INDICATORS IN A CONTROLLED LABORATORY STRESS PARADIGM Psychosom Med, June 1, 2009; 71(5): 588 - 588. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. H. Wirtz, S. Elsenbruch, and U. Ehlert RESPONSE Psychosom Med, June 1, 2009; 71(5): 589 - 590. [Full Text] [PDF]