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Rumination, or repetitive, past-oriented unwanted thinking, has been shown to be related to cortisol recovery after an experimental stressor. However, no one has investigated the role of ruminative tendencies on diurnal cortisol levels. This study explores the association between rumination, as well as post-stress contemplation (different from rumination because it includes positive musings regarding the stressor) and diurnal levels of salivary cortisol. Ninety-six healthy participants (59% female, 94% white, mean age 50) collected daily saliva samples (wake, wake +4h, wake +9h, wake +11h) across 6days. Post stress-rumination and contemplation were assessed 50min after two separate administrations of a modified Trier Social Stress Test. Analyses examined relationships between mean cortisol levels across the 6days and mean rumination and contemplation scores across the two stress visits, controlling for BMI …