We examined the body mass and physiological states related to solitary lifestyle and dominant-subordinate relationships in male striped hamsters (Cricetulus barabensis). Wild adult hamsters were captured from farmland in mountainous areas in southwest of Shandong province and caged singly in the laboratory during the breeding season. The experimental hamsters were subjected to 4 weeks staged dyadic encounters, and the faeces were collected every day for 28 consecutive days by pairing two unfamiliar and weight-matched males in a neutral arena. In order to determine dominant or subordinate status, aggressive behavior, defense, social and nonsocial behaviors were quantified every day. Animals were then necropsied and their physiological and reproductive state assessed. Our results suggested that 1) an increase of body mass could not be depressed by social conflict of male hamsters;2) adrenal gland index of subordinate animals increased significantly; 3) the concentration of faecal GCs was related to the social conflict’s time and an individual’s social status;4)the dominant individual maintained a high testosterone level, which favored its aggressive behavior and facillitated the dominant status; 5)the cortisol suppressed testosterone secretion within all treatment groups caused the testosterone to fall to the low level. These data show that formation of dominance-subordinate relationships could be determined by aggressive behavior; testosterone level improved the formation of dominance of males, but this was in turn depressed by cortisol level. Organ index data suggested that the HPA axis did not suppress the HPG axis. Subordinate animals were stressed, which benefited survival and reproduction of dominant male hamsters in the field.