A meta-analysis of cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test in virtual environments

•Virtual versions of the TSST (V-TSST) reliably induced a moderate cortisol reactivity response (ESsg = 0.65).•Immersive V-TSST environments demonstrated significantly greater cortisol reactivity than non-immersive environments.•Studies with only men demonstrated significantly greater cortisol reactivity than studies that included women.•Studies with participants under 25 demonstrated significantly greater cortisol reactivity than those with older participants.