Poor sleep the night before an experimental stress task is associated with reduced cortisol reactivity in healthy women.
Sleep disruption is a growing problem that may have serious health effects. As stress-induced increases in cortisol are thought to be a key adaptive process it is important to examine how this response is affected by sleep. The current study investigated the association of four sleep parameters (objective/subjectively measured sleep quality and quantity) and subsequent salivary cortisol reactivity (maximal change from baseline) to an experimental stressor in 53 healthy women. Objective actigraphy monitoring and self-report diaries were used to assess sleep. Results revealed that individuals with lower objective sleep quality (wake percentage during sleep) had a blunted response to the experimental stressor. No associations were found between cortisol reactivity and actigraphy-derived sleep quantity, or either of the self-reported sleep variables. Results are discussed with regard to the possible adverse health effects that may result from poor sleep quality and a blunted cortisol response to stress.
Wright
Caroline E
CE
Biobehavioral Medicine Program, Department of Oncological Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Box 1130, 1425 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA. caroline.wright@mssm.edu
Valdimarsdottir
Heiddis B
HB
Erblich
Joel
J
Bovbjerg
Dana H
DH
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011932:Reading; D012016:Reference Values; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012660:Semantics; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000097:blood*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology
D006854:Hydrocortisone