Normalisation of salivary cortisol levels and self-report stress by a brief lunchtime visit to an art gallery by London City workers

Abstract

As a psychophysiologist I investigate the way emotion (typically negative mood states or stress) affects bodily functions and, in the long run, health.Recently people have questioned whether the health benefits associated with a positive outlook and good social support are merely a buffer for these negative effects or whether they have direct and independent pathways to health.My research has involved development of methodologically sound ways to explore these sorts of questions by measurement of free cortisol concentrations in saliva.