Psychosocial factors at home and at work and levels of salivary cortisol.
BACKGROUND
Salivary cortisol as a physiological measure of stress has attracted great interest in recent years.


METHODS
A 55 women and 28 men, all healthy volunteers, were included in a study on psychosocial factors at work and at home and salivary cortisol. General linear models, univariate and repeated measures, respectively, were used to evaluate the associations between psychosocial factors and cortisol excretion measured six times during a working day. Age, physical activity, tobacco use and the time of the first saliva sample were used as covariates.


RESULTS
In the women, high degrees of time pressure, effort and effort reward imbalance were significantly associated with higher levels of cortisol. In the men, high degrees of effort, effort reward imbalance and overcommitment were significantly associated with higher levels of cortisol.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychosocial factors are of significance to the level of salivary cortisol. The study emphasises the benefits of taking physiological measurements of stress in epidemiological studies.
Eller
Nanna Hurwitz
NH
Clinic of Occupational Medicine, Hilleroed Hospital, Helsevej 2-4, DK-3400 Hilleroed, Denmark. nael@fa.dk
Netterstrøm
Bo
B
Hansen
Ase Marie
AM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012201:Reward; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D012931:Social Environment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013997:Time Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology; D016526:Workload / Q000523:psychology; D017132:Workplace
D006854:Hydrocortisone