title: Good self-rated health is related to psychosocial resources and a strong cortisol response to acute stress: the LiVicordia study of middle-aged men.
abstract: Self-rated health (SRH) is a strong predictor for disease and death. The relations among SRH, psychosocial factors, and cortisol dynamics were tested using pooled data from the LiVicordia study of 50-year-old men in Lithuania (n = 94) and Sweden (n = 89), controlling for effect of residence. SRH was assessed by "How would you assess your own health?" A standardized laboratory stress test included measures of cortisol in serum and saliva. Good SRH related to high scale scores of decision latitude, social support at work, coping, self-esteem, and sense of coherence; to low scores of overcommitment (all p < .01) and vital exhaustion (r = -0.40, p < 0.001); to low concentrations of saliva baseline cortisol (r = -.26, p = .001); and to a strong cortisol response to stress (r = .27, p = .001). Findings that good SRH related to favorable psychosocial characteristics and to a dynamic cortisol stress response indicate a possible explanation for observed lower risk for disease and death in this state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linkping University, Sweden. Margareta.Kristenson@ihs.liu.se
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kristenson
authors.forename: Anders G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Olsson
authors.forename: Zita
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kucinskiene
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone