title: Measuring short-term and long-term physiological stress effects by cortisol reactivity in saliva and hair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the concurrent relationship between short-term and long-term stress reactivity measured by cortisol excretion and (2) the relationship of these physiological stress effects with self-reported stress and need for recovery after work (NFR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were production workers in the meat-processing industry. Short-term cortisol excretion was calculated by summing 18 saliva samples, sampled over a 3-day period. Samples were delivered by 37 participants. Twenty-nine of them also supplied one hair sample of at least 3 cm in length for an analysis of long-term (3 months) cortisol excretion. All of them filled in a short questionnaire on self-reported stress and NFR. Self-reported stress was assessed by a three-item stress screener; NFR was assessed by an 11-item scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Short-term and long-term cortisol excretion are significantly, but moderately, associated (r = 0.41, P = 0.03). Short-term and long-term cortisol excretion correlated weakly to self-reported stress and NFR (correlations varied from -0.04 to 0.21).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term and long-term physiological stress excretion levels are moderately associated. Physiological stress effects assessed from saliva and hair cannot be used interchangeably with self-reported stress because they only correlate weakly. To better predict long-term cortisol excretion in workers, the predictive value of short-term cortisol excretion must be evaluated in a prognostic longitudinal study in a working population.
authors.affiliation: Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22700, 1100 DE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Berry J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van Holland
authors.forename: Monique H W
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Frings-Dresen
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sluiter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D057566:Self Report; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006854:Hydrocortisone