Skip to main content
Journal cover image

A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Préville, M; Susman, E; Zarit, SH; Smyer, M; Bosworth, HB; Reid, JD
Published in: J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci
March 1996

Research on the physiological adaptation process has found that stress is associated with the rate of cortisol secretion, the main hormone that reflects stress. However, considerable variation among subjects has been reported. Using a sample of older adults (N=46), we tested the hypothesis that cortisol reactivity is composed of (1) a situation-related component representing hypothalamic influence on cortisol secretion observed on three different occasions, and (2) a stable component representing a general trait responsible for cortisol responses observed from occasion to occasion. LISREL VIII was used to test this hypothesis. Results indicated that a homogeneous reliability model was not supported by the data. A congeneric measurement model represented a better fit to the data. Results suggest that subjects have consistent patterns of response during separate experimental occasions. However, results do not suggest a consistent pattern of response over time. The main implication of these results is that salivary cortisol measures are sensitive to experimental stress situations. As such, this noninvasive method may be useful in examining adaptive responses to stress.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5014

Publication Date

March 1996

Volume

51

Issue

2

Start / End Page

P64 / P69

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Physiological
  • Models, Psychological
  • Male
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Female
  • Aging
  • Aged
  • Adaptation, Psychological
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Préville, M., Susman, E., Zarit, S. H., Smyer, M., Bosworth, H. B., & Reid, J. D. (1996). A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 51(2), P64–P69. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/51b.2.p64
Préville, M., E. Susman, S. H. Zarit, M. Smyer, H. B. Bosworth, and J. D. Reid. “A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults.J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 51, no. 2 (March 1996): P64–69. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/51b.2.p64.
Préville M, Susman E, Zarit SH, Smyer M, Bosworth HB, Reid JD. A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1996 Mar;51(2):P64–9.
Préville, M., et al. “A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults.J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, vol. 51, no. 2, Mar. 1996, pp. P64–69. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/geronb/51b.2.p64.
Préville M, Susman E, Zarit SH, Smyer M, Bosworth HB, Reid JD. A measurement model of cortisol reactivity of healthy older adults. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 1996 Mar;51(2):P64–P69.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci

DOI

ISSN

1079-5014

Publication Date

March 1996

Volume

51

Issue

2

Start / End Page

P64 / P69

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Stress, Physiological
  • Models, Psychological
  • Male
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Humans
  • Gerontology
  • Female
  • Aging
  • Aged
  • Adaptation, Psychological