The mediating impact of PTSD symptoms on cortisol awakening response in the context of intimate partner violence

•In 158 females with IPV-related PTSD, arousal symptom severity reported over the past week and month moderated the trajectory of CAR.•Females with higher arousal symptom severity had a flatter cortisol trajectory and less fluctuation in CAR compared to women with lower arousal.•Emotional numbing over the past week moderated cortisol levels in a similar manner to arousal but at the level of a trend.•Emotional numbing, effortful avoidance, and re-experiencing symptoms were not significant moderators of CAR.