Psychological Science ›› 2013, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (3): 675-680.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Correlation between self-esteem and psychosocial stress

  

  • Received:2011-08-30 Revised:2012-05-29 Online:2013-05-20 Published:2013-05-24

自尊与心理性应激的关系初探

杨娟1,3,侯燕1,2,3,杨瑜1,3,陈伟海2,2   

  1. 1. 西南大学心理学院
    2.
    3. 西南大学心理学院
  • 通讯作者: 杨娟

Abstract: Introduction Self-esteem has been found to affect the neuroendocrine cortisol response to stress. Research has found that subjects with low self-esteem and low levels of internal locus of control exhibited a significant cortisol response in individualism culture. However, collectivistic trait is an important part of self-esteem in collectivism culture and high self-esteem is more self-promoting for others’ positive comments than low self-esteem. Therefore, we hypothesize that subjects with high self-esteem would exhibit a significant cortisol response than low self-esteem in Chinese culture. Method In the present study, healthy male and female volunteers (N=28) performed Rosenberg self-esteem scale and the standardized TSST protocol, during which scores of self-esteem, subjective measure (visual rating scale) and objective measures (heart rate and salivary cortisol) were assessed. Results The results showed that heart rate of participants were positively correlated with self-esteem when the TSST started. 40 minutes after the TSST, participants’cortisol responses were positively correlated with self-esteem, the higher level of self-esteem, the higher level of cortisol response. Conclusion The finding demonstrated that subjects with high self-esteem exhibited significantly stress response than low self-esteem in Chinese culture.

Key words: self-esteem, psychosocial stress, culture difference, salivary cortisol

摘要: 自尊水平影响着个体在应激情境中的内分泌反应,在以人个人主义文化下的研究发现,由于低自尊具有较低的内部控制力,因此在应激情境中的唾液皮质醇反应更强烈。但是在中国集体主义文化中,由于集体性自我的评价是自尊的一个重要组成部分,高自尊更加期望集体或社会的积极性评价,因此假设在心理性应激情境下(即个体的能力被否定的时候),高自尊的应激反应会比低自尊更加强烈。本研究以健康大学生为被试,分别以Rosenberg自尊量表和特里尔社会应激测试(TSST)为实验手段,以自尊量表得分、主观应激报告(5点量表)和客观应激参数(心率和唾液皮质醇)为指标,在中国文化背景下探讨自尊与心理性应激的关系。结果发现,在TSST开始时(20分钟)自尊与心率呈正相关,自尊水平越高,心率越快;在TSST结束后(60分钟)自尊与唾液皮质醇水平呈正相关,自尊水平越高,唾液皮质醇水平越高。总体来说,相对于低自尊被试而言,高自尊被试在心理性应激情境中的反应更为强烈。

关键词: 自尊, 心理性应激, 文化差异, 唾液皮质醇