title: The diurnal course of salivary alpha-amylase in nurses: an investigation of potential confounders and associations with stress.
abstract: In psychoneuroendocrinology research, salivary measures have become increasingly important. While several studies focus on determinants of salivary cortisol such as age, gender, and gynaecological variables, less research has focused on confounding variables of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). In a large sample of nurses (N=215) we analyzed the impact of age, gender, intake of oral contraceptives, smoking, coffee consumption as well as psychological parameters, such as work stress and burnout, on basal diurnal sAA release. Saliva was collected at 07:00 h, 11:30 h, 17:30 h, and 20:00 h on a working day during early shift. Only gender could be identified to have an impact on sAA, with females having a more pronounced sAA increase over the course of the day. Whereas depression, anxiety, work stress and burnout were not associated with sAA, a small negative correlation between social difficulties, measured with the Chronic Stress Screening Scale, and sAA could be identified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf & Schön Klinik Hamburg-Eilbek, Germany. k.wingenfeld@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wingenfeld
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Damkroeger
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Philippsen
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Driessen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone