title: Psychological correlates of salivary cortisol secretion among unemployed men and women.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to examine the association between psychological factors and salivary cortisol secretion (baseline level, reactivity to laboratory stressors) in a sample of 59 long-term unemployed men and women (mean age 42+/-10 years). Subjects were divided into four groups according to their basal levels of salivary cortisol as well as their reactivity to experimental stress (stress level minus baseline): (1) low base/ low reactivity; (2) high base/low reactivity; (3) low base/high reactivity; and (4) high base/ high reactivity. The low base/low reactivity group was characterized by significantly higher somatic anxiety, muscular tension, irritability, and depression (Beck's Depression Inventory) and lower perceived control (mastery) than the other groups. The low base/high reactivity group was also characterized by depression and low perceived control. The high base/low reactivity group was higher in terms of monotony avoidance, Type-A behavior (JAS) and mastery, but lower in depression. The results indicate that (1) individuals with personality traits reflecting emotional distress are more vulnerable to exhaustion of the HPA-axis following long-term unemployment and (2) monotony avoidance and Type-A behavior, at least temporarily, seem to exert a beneficial influence on mental well-being among long-term unemployed individuals.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahs
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lundberg
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010556:Personality Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012063:Relaxation / Q000523:psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014434:Type A Personality; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone