Children’s hair cortisol as a biomarker of stress at school entry

Groeneveld, Marleen G.; Vermeer, Harriet J.; Linting, Mariëlle; Noppe, Gerard; Rossum, Elisabeth F.C. van; IJzendoorn, M.H. van

doi:10.3109/10253890.2013.817553

Cited by 100 publications

(100 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In a study with 40 German college students subjects who stated that they had experienced a "significant mental burden" had higher hair cortisol concentrations then students who did not [6]. Similar results were obtained in a study involving students entering elementary school [7], particularly in student classified as "highly fearful". In all three studies, it seems that high cortisol concentrations in hair may have been driven by unusually threatening circumstances.…”

Section: Conclusion and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress in Health-studies Students during Summer Break and Fall Term

Mezentsef¹,

Jackson²,

Baig³

et al. 2017

J Steroids Horm Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Conclusion and Discussionsupporting

confidence: 64%

Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress in Health-studies Students during Summer Break and Fall Term

Mezentsef¹,

Jackson²,

Baig³

et al. 2017

J Steroids Horm Sci

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Among neonates, days on a ventilator (a chronic stressor) was associated with elevated hair cortisol levels [10]. Among young children, hair cortisol levels increased following school entry [11]; and among adults, those with long term unemployment (12+ months) had higher hair cortisol levels than those currently employed [12]. Moreover, adults with chronic pain had higher hair cortisol levels than those without chronic pain [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress and Dispositional Optimism: A Pilot Study among Adolescents

Milam

Slaughter

Verma

et al. 2014

J Trauma Stress Disor Treat

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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. Conclusion 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.

show abstract

“…Other psychological stressors which have been associated with increased HCC are school entry in children (56), giving care to a relative with dementia (57), promotion prospects (58) and unemployment (59).…”

Section: European Journal Of Endocrinologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical applications of cortisol measurements in hair

Wester

Rossum

2015

European Journal of Endocrinology

175

141

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cortisol measurements in blood, saliva and urine are frequently used to examine the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in clinical practice and in research. However, cortisol levels are subject to variations due to acute stress, the diurnal rhythm and pulsatile secretion. Cortisol measurements in body fluids are not always a reflection of long-term cortisol exposure. The analysis of cortisol in scalp hair is a relatively novel method to measure cumulative cortisol exposure over months up to years. Over the past years, hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) have been examined in association with a large number of somatic and mental health conditions. HCC can be used to evaluate disturbances of the HPA axis, including Cushing's syndrome, and to evaluate hydrocortisone treatment. Using HCC, retrospective timelines of cortisol exposure can be created which can be of value in diagnosing cyclic hypercortisolism. HCC have also been shown to increase with psychological stressors, including major life events, as well as physical stressors, such as endurance exercise and shift work. Initial studies show that HCC may be increased in depression, but decreased in general anxiety disorder. In posttraumatic stress disorder, changes in HCC seem to be dependent on the type of traumatic experience and the time since traumatization. Increased hair cortisol is consistently linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Potentially, HCC could form a future marker for cardiovascular risk stratification, as well as serve as a treatment target.

show abstract

Children’s hair cortisol as a biomarker of stress at school entry

Cited by 100 publications

References 22 publications

Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress in Health-studies Students during Summer Break and Fall Term

Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress in Health-studies Students during Summer Break and Fall Term

Hair Cortisol, Perceived Stress and Dispositional Optimism: A Pilot Study among Adolescents

Clinical applications of cortisol measurements in hair

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About