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. 2022 Aug;25(4):693-703.
doi: 10.1007/s00737-022-01241-9. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

The relationship between sex, personality traits, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

José Antonio Monreal  1   2 , Neus Salvat-Pujol  2   3   4   5 , Alexandre González-Rodríguez  1 , Mikel Urretavizcaya  2   3   4 , José Manuel Crespo  2   3   4 , Roser Nadal  2   6 , Aida de Arriba-Arnau  2   4 , Clara Massaneda  4 , Diego Palao  2   5 , José Manuel Menchón  2   3   4 , Javier Labad  2   7 , Virginia Soria  8   9   10
Affiliations

The relationship between sex, personality traits, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

José Antonio Monreal et al. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2022 Aug.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to examine whether there are sex-based differences in the relationship between personality traits and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis measures. A total of 106 healthy volunteers (56.6% women; age: 48.0 ± 15.8 years) were studied. The revised temperament and character inventory (TCI-R) and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) were administered. HPA axis function was assessed using three dynamic measures: the cortisol awakening response (CAR), the diurnal cortisol slope, and the cortisol suppression ratio with 0.25 mg of dexamethasone (DSTR). Female sex was associated with an increased CAR and a more flattened diurnal cortisol slope, although a negative significant interaction between harm avoidance and female sex was found. Regarding the DSTR, perseverance was associated with increased cortisol suppression after dexamethasone; sex did not affect this association. Our study suggests that the relationship between specific personality traits (harm avoidance) and HPA axis measures (CAR, diurnal slope) differs according to sex.

Keywords: Cortisol; HPA; Harm avoidance; Personality; Sex differences.

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