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- Title
Sex-specific association of hair cortisol concentration with stress-related psychological factors in healthy young adults.
- Authors
Kim, Won Jae; Park, Kyung Mee; Park, Jung Tak; Seo, Eunchong; An, Suk Kyoon; Park, Hye Yoon; Lee, Eun
- Abstract
Background: Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has received attention as a useful marker of stress, but evidence on associations between psychological factors and cortisol concentration is inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sex differences in the relationship between cortisol concentration and psychological factors in healthy young adults. Methods: A total of 205 (103 females, 102 males) healthy young adults participated. HCC and various stress-related psychological measures were compared between sexes. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess associations between HCC and stress-related psychological measures for all participants and for each sex. Results: The difference in HCC according to sex was not significant. The reported number of stressful life events in the past year, stress perception, depressive and anxiety-related symptoms, and emotion dysregulation were not different between sexes, either. The association between HCC and emotion dysregulation was significant in females but not males. Conclusion: We observed a sex-specific association between HCC and psychological factors. Our findings may imply that HCC could be a useful biomarker of stress and stress-related emotion dysregulation in healthy young women. Highlights: Associations between hair cortisol level and psychological factors have been inconclusive. In healthy young adults, the hair cortisol concentration was not significantly different between sexes. The association between emotion dysregulation and hair cortisol was only found in women, but not in men. The role of sex should be considered in utilizing hair cortisol as a biomarker for psychological stress response.
- Subjects
PSYCHOLOGICAL factors; HYDROCORTISONE; YOUNG adults; LIFE change events; HAIR; DIALECTICAL behavior therapy; MULTIPLE regression analysis
- Publication
Biology of Sex Differences, 2021, Vol 12, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2042-6410
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13293-021-00399-8