title: Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress and Dispositional Optimism: A Pilot Study among Adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychological stress is often associated with poor health-related outcomes. One potential biomarker for chronic stress, hair cortisol, is minimally invasive compared to other cortisol collection techniques. This pilot study examined the relationships between hair cortisol and self-reported perceived stress, stressful life events, depressive symptoms, and dispositional optimism among adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study comprised of a convenience sample of 27 adolescents (age: M=14.96, SD=1.63) recruited from a Southern California after-school program. Along with demographic and hair characteristics (e.g., hair color, type, etc.), participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Stressful Life Events checklist, CES-D (depressive symptoms), and Life Orientation Test (optimism). Hair cortisol was measured by analyzing hair samples approximately 1 cm from the scalp representing one month of cortisol exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hair cortisol had a significant inverse association with dispositional optimism (r=-0.44, p<0.05). Hair cortisol was not significantly associated with self-reported perceived stress, stressful life events, or depressive symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Assessment of hair cortisol may prove beneficial as an objective measure in research examining chronic stress-related outcomes among adolescents. Resiliency or protective dispositions, such as optimism, merit attention in relation to this biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milam
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
authors.forename: Rhona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Slaughter
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
authors.forename: Gaurav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, USA.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McConnell
keywords: Adolescents; Dispositional optimism; Hair cortisol; Stress; Stressful life events