Elevated cortisol levels are linked to anxiety.

Is it true that elevated cortisol levels are linked to anxiety?

Partly. Several small clinical studies partially bear on the link: panic-disorder and music-performance studies show anxiety and elevated cortisol co-occurring, and a couple-relationship study finds anxiety moderates cortisol response, while a swimmer study found no significant cortisol-anxiety association and a breastfeeding review found lowered cortisol alongside reduced anxiety. No item directly establishes the general claim.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 4 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 3 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

High cortisol awakening response and cortisol levels moderate exposure-based psychotherapy success. (2015). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.10.008

Moberg, K. U., Ekström-Bergström, A., Buckley, S., Massarotti, C., Pajalic, Z., & Luegmair, K. (2020). Maternal plasma levels of oxytocin during breastfeeding-A systematic review.. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0235806

Assessing the Role of Cortisol in Anxiety, Major Depression, and Neuroticism: A Mendelian Randomization Study Using SERPINA6/SERPINA1 Variants - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsgos.2024.100294

Anxiety and chronic couple relationship stress moderate adrenocortical response to couple interaction in expectant parents. (n.d.). cir.nii.ac.jp. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12005

Turan, B., Hurst-Wajszczuk, K., & Edwards, D. A. (2022). Hormone and enzyme reactivity before, during, and after a music performance: Cortisol, testosterone, and alpha-amylase. doi.org. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100111

Effect of Competition on the Salivary Cortisol Level in Elite Boy Swimmers. (2022). doi.org. https://doi.org/10.5812/tms-129845