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