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.