Diurnal saliva cortisol levels and relations to psychosocial factors in a population sample of middle-aged Swedish men and women.
Whereas psychosocial risk factors increase the risk for disease, psychosocial resources reduce this risk. To examine a possible pathway for these effects, the relations between saliva cortisol levels and psychosocial factors were studied in a random sample of 257 men and women aged 30 to 64 years. Saliva samples were collected at home on waking, 30 min after waking, and in the evening. A flatter diurnal rhythm of cortisol, that is, lower deviations between awakening and evening cortisol levels, was related to high levels of psychosocial risk factors (cynicism, depression, and vital exhaustion), whereas a steeper diurnal rhythm was related to psychosocial resources (social support and coping), general health, and well-being (all p < .05). Our results support earlier suggestions that the capacity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis to dynamically respond to stress is 1 pathway for observed effects of psychosocial factors regarding risk for disease development.
Sjögren
Elaine
E
Department of Health and Society, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. Elaine.Sjogren@ihs.liu.se
Leanderson
Per
P
Kristenson
Margareta
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001290:Attitude; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012944:Social Support; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
D006854:Hydrocortisone