Lower on the totem pole : The influence of sense of control and trait anxiety on cortisol at lower hierarchical levels

Abstract

Several studies have found that hierarchical position either increases or reduces physiological stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the moderating effect of sense of control or trait anxiety on the relationship between hierarchical position and physiological stress. Using a multilevel mixed-effects regression, we hypothesized that sense of control or trait anxiety could be buffers (accelerants) in lowering (increasing) physiological stress for those higher (lower) in the hierarchy. We draw on a sample of 202 Portuguese executives. Our findings indicate that relative to top-level managers, those lower in the hierarchical position had a lower salivary cortisol. Considering the moderating effects of sense of control or trait anxiety, executives lower in the hierarchy who have a higher sense of control or report higher trait anxiety levels had higher cortisol levels. Sense of control or trait anxiety may aid in the understanding of more subtle associations between hierarchical position and physiological stress.