CORT. Paired t-tests confirmed that the TSST induced a statistically significant increase in CORT, with concentrations 19% higher at minute 10 (p = 0.002) and peaking at minute 20 on average. In the continuous linear regression model adjusted for the
selected covariates, CORT levels at baseline (minute 0) were significantly lower with higher BPb and TPb levels (Table 3). Specifically, CORT levels were estimated to be 19% lower in association with an IQR increase in log-BPb. After adjustment for baseline CORT and other covariates, regression analyses did not reveal significant associations of BPb or TPb with the CORT response to the stressor except in one condition; 15 min after baseline, participants with higher TPb levels had higher CORT levels (Table 3). Although not significant after adjustment for baseline, TPb appeared positively associated with CORT at other time points. Analyses with median split revealed that baseline CORT was significantly lower for participants with higher BPb levels (p = 0.04); mean (95% CIs) were 11.6 µg/dL (10.0–13.5) for the low BPb group and 9.8 µg/dL (8.2–11.7) for the high BPb group). No other median split comparisons were statistically significant.