title: Interindividual differences and intraindividual variability in the cortisol awakening response: an examination of age and gender.
abstract: This article shows age and gender differences in the magnitude and day-to-day variability of the cortisol awakening response (CAR) using a national sample of 1,143 adults who completed the second wave of the National Study of Daily Experiences, a part of the Midlife Development in the United States survey. Participants between the ages of 33 and 84 years completed 8 consecutive nightly interviews and provided 4 saliva samples (upon waking, 30 min after waking, before lunch, and before bed) on 4 consecutive interview days. Results revealed substantial day-to-day variability in the CAR as well as significant AgexGender interactions, indicating that although no systematic age-related differences emerged for women, the magnitude and day-to-day variability of the CAR increased with age among men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. dalmeida@psu.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stawski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone