Associations between hair cortisol and subjective stress measures in a large occupational sample

Abstract

Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are commonly used to capture long-term cumulative cortisol secretion in stress research. However, data on associations between HCC and subjective stress measures have been inconsistent. This may partly be due to bias introduced by smaller-sized academic samples. Here, we investigate associations between HCC and (work-) stress-related measures in a large occupational, predominantly male, sample. Demographic, anthropometric , and self-reported data were collected as part of an occupational health assessment for employees of an airplane manufacturing company ( N = 1258). Hair samples (3 cm) were obtained and glucocorticoid concentrations (HCC and hair cortisone , HairE) were analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. HCC and HairE were unrelated to self-report measures of perceived stress , work-related stress (effort-reward imbalance, overcommitment), and other stress-related constructs. Group-based analyses concerning associations with job strain revealed a small effect of individuals with high job strain ( n = 281) exhibiting higher HCC than the remaining sample ( n = 811). Our data replicate previous findings of no consistent associations between hair glucocorticoids and subjective stress-related questionnaire data, besides evidence for elevated HCC in a high job strain group. Further research addressing open methodological questions regarding HCC by means of advanced stress assessment methods is needed. • Hair cortisol (HCC) and stress-related measures examined in a large cohort (N = 1258). • HCC not associated with perceived stress or work-related stress measures. • Higher HCC in the high strain group compared to the remaining sample.