Providing negative feedback can be demanding, as it typically requires dealing with multiple negative emotions. The first aim of this study was to transfer this work-related task to a new laboratory protocol and to investigate short-term hormonal changes among feedback providers. The second aim was to test if such hormonal stress responses can be attenuated through a priori instructions on how to regulate emotions.

Each of 150 participants (51% women) provided eight saliva samples before, during, and after anticipating and conducting a negative feedback conversation with a professional actor who displayed negative emotional reactions. Participants were divided into four conditions regarding the way they were instructed to regulate their emotions: expressive suppression (keeping a neutral expression); cognitive reappraisal (staying task-oriented and emotionally distanced); affect utilization (moving towards and using emotions); or control condition.

By means of three-phase spline growth models, latent growth factors during baseline, stress response, and recovery were specified. Providing negative feedback was followed by significant temporary testosterone decreases as well as cortisol increases. Testosterone (but not cortisol) responses were attenuated when feedback providers had been instructed to either follow a cognitive reappraisal or affect utilization strategy.

This study provides evidence that a typical managerial task, that is, having to provide negative feedback, is a testosterone- and cortisol-relevant experience. Down-regulation of an individual's emotional involvement through reappraisal, as well as the newly introduced technique of moving towards and making use of the interaction partner's emotions (affect utilization), revealed consequences in terms of attenuating the testosterone response to stress.

提供负面反馈可能很困难，因为它通常需要处理多种负面情绪。这项研究的首要目的是将与工作相关的任务转移到新的实验室规程中，并调查反馈提供者之间的短期荷尔蒙变化。第二个目的是测试是否可以通过关于如何调节情绪的先验指示来减轻这种荷尔蒙应激反应。

150名参与者（51％为女性）中的每名参与者在预期并与表现出负面情绪反应的专业演员进行负面反馈之前，之中和之后提供了八份唾液样本。根据指导他们调节情绪的方式，将参与者分为四个条件：表达抑制（保持中性表达）；认知评估（保持任务导向和情感距离）；影响利用率（朝着情感使用和使用情感）；或控制条件。

通过三相样条曲线生长模型，确定了基线，压力响应和恢复过程中的潜在生长因子。提供负面反馈后，睾丸激素暂时显着下降，皮质醇上升。当指示反馈提供者遵循认知重新评估或影响使用策略时，睾丸激素（而非皮质醇）的反应减弱。

这项研究提供的证据表明，典型的管理任务（即必须提供负面反馈）是与睾丸激素和皮质醇有关的经历。通过重新评估来降低个人的情感参与，以及新近引入的利用和利用互动对象的情感（影响利用）的技术，在减轻睾丸激素对压力的反应方面显示出后果。