Salivary testosterone and cortisol response in acute stress modulated by seven sessions of mindfulness meditation in young males
Yaxin Fan, Yifen Cui, Rongxiang Tang, Amar Sarkar, Pranjal Mehta, Yi-Yuan Tang
Stress February 20, 2024 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2024.2316041 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Healthy adults (not specified in abstract) |
| Interventions | Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) Relaxation training |
| Dose | seven 20-minute sessions |
| Duration | Seven 20-minute sessions, with additional 20-minute practice after stress |
| Measures | salivary cortisol, salivary testosterone |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Cortisol Testosterone Mindfulness meditation Integrative body-mind training Relaxation training Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis |
| Key findings | Brief mindfulness meditation (IBMT) produced higher testosterone concentrations and lower cortisol concentrations after acute stress compared to relaxation training. |
Abstract
AbstractStress is an established risk factor for negative health outcomes. Salivary cortisol and testosterone concentrations increase in response to acute psychosocial stress. It’s crucial to reduce stress for health and well-being through evidence-based interventions. Body-mind interventions such as meditation and Tai Chi have shown reduced cortisol levels but mixed results in testosterone concentration after stress. To address this research gap, we conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the modulating effects of a short-term (seven 20-minute sessions) mindfulness meditation on testosterone and cortisol in response to acute stress. Using one form of mindfulness meditation – Integrative Body-Mind Training (IBMT) and an active control–relaxation training (RT), we assessed salivary cortisol and testosterone concentrations at three stages of stress intervention – rest, stress, and an additional 20-min IBMT or RT practice. We found increased cortisol and testosterone concentrations after acute stress in both groups, but testosterone rise was not associated with cortisol rise. Moreover, an additional practice immediately after stress produced higher testosterone concentrations in the IBMT group than the RT group, whereas cortisol concentration increased in the RT group than in the IBMT group at the same time point. These findings indicate that brief mindfulness intervention modulates a dual-hormone profile of testosterone and cortisol in response to acute stress presumably via the co-regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamus-pituitary-testicular axes.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 8
- Effects of long-term mindfulness meditation training on attentional capacity in professional male fencer athletes. Scientific Reports April 15, 2025
- Metabolomic profiles impacted by brief mindfulness intervention with contributions to improved health. Scientific Reports July 25, 2025
- Discussion on the Application of Mindfulness Therapy in the Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Narrative Review Psychology Research and Behavior Management August 1, 2025
- Designing a meditation module to affect etiological and preventive factors in primary hypertensive patients-A pilot study. Physiological reports February 1, 2025
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction during pregnancy is associated with changes in placental fatty acid metabolism and endocrine function Placenta October 1, 2026
and 3 more in the library
Cites 10
- Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 11, 2007
- Functional brain mapping of the relaxation response and meditation Neuroreport May 1, 2000
- Empirical explorations of mindfulness: Conceptual and methodological conundrums. Emotion February 1, 2010
- Mindfulness meditation training alters stress-related amygdala resting state functional connectivity: a randomized controlled trial Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience June 5, 2015
- No sustained attention differences in a longitudinal randomized trial comparing mindfulness based stress reduction versus active control. PLoS One 2014
and 5 more in the library