A Measurement Model of Cortisol Reactivity of Healthy Older Adults

Abstract

Research on the physiological adaptation process has found that stress is associated with the rate of cortisol secretion, the main hormone that reflects stress. However, considerable variation among subjects has been reported. Using a sample of older adults (N=46), we tested the hypothesis that cortisol reactivity is composed of (1) a situation-related component representing hypothalamic influence on cortisol secretion observed on three different occasions, and (2) a stable component representing a general trait responsible for cortisol responses observed from occasion to occasion. LISREL VIII was used to test this hypothesis. Results indicated that a homogeneous reliability model was not supported by the data. A congeneric measurement model represented a better fit to the data. Results suggest that subjects have consistent patterns of response during separate experimental occasions. However, results do not suggest a consistent pattern of response over time. The main implication of these results is that salivary cortisol measures are sensitive to experimental stress situations. As such, this noninvasive method may be useful in examining adaptive responses to stress.

Response variability of salivary cortisol among older adults under psychological stress

“…Thirty minutes later, participants were invited to solve 70 addition problems from the SchaieThurstone Primary Mental Abilities Test (Schaie, 1985). Results from a previous study showed that this test was an acceptable stress activator in older adults (Pre´ville et al, 1996). The instructions were read to the participant and three examples were completed.…”

An Examination of Perceived Stress in Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Heart Failure

“…Researchers in endocrinology and behavioral medicine indicated that salivary cortisol is as reliable as serum and urine assessments, and it can be readily obtained ). Studying older adults over a 9-month period, Preville et al (1996) reported a positive relationship between subjects' salivary cortisol levels and the stress induced in an experimental setting. In a study of current stress at six time intervals during 1 day, Smyth et al (1998) found that salivary cortisol increased with daily stressors and anticipated stress.…”

“…Cortisol has been shown to be a sensitive indicator of stressful situations in both younger and older populations (Preville et al, 1996;Smyth et al, 1998;Vedhara et al, 1999) and it has shown a small positive association with trait anxiety and depression (Van Eck, Berkhof, Nicholson, & Sulon, 1996). Researchers in endocrinology and behavioral medicine indicated that salivary cortisol is as reliable as serum and urine assessments, and it can be readily obtained ).…”

Assessing Salivary Cortisol in Studies of Child Development

“…Studies have validated the direct radioimmunoassay of cortisol in saliva, determined the stability of salivary cortisol under various laboratory conditions, and documented correlations between levels of serum and salivary cortisol in various static and dynamic conditions (e.g., Kahn, Rubinow, Davis, Kling, & Post, 1988;Kirschbaum & Hellhammer, 1992Reid, Intrieri, Susman, & Beard, 1992). Those findings are often cited to justify the use of salivary cortisol in studies with children.…”