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Affective States

Meaning

Affective states refer to the subjective experience of emotion, mood, and temperament, which are deeply intertwined with the neuroendocrine system. These internal psychological conditions represent an individual’s moment-to-moment emotional tone and longer-term mood stability. Fluctuations in hormonal balance, particularly of cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones, profoundly influence the central nervous system structures responsible for emotional regulation. Maintaining optimal affective states is a critical component of overall hormonal health and quality of life. Clinical assessment often considers the interplay between reported affect and measured hormone profiles.