The potential of using hair cortisol to measure chronic stress in occupational healthcare; a scoping review.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Workplace-based selective prevention of mental health problems currently relies on subjective evaluation of stress complaints. Hair cortisol captures chronic stress responses and could be a promising biomarker for the early identification of mental health problems. The objective was to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art knowledge on the practical value of hair cortisol in the occupational setting.

Methods

We performed a scoping review of cross-sectional and longitudinal studies in PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO up to November 2019 assessing the relations of hair cortisol with work-related stressors, perceived stress, and mental health outcomes in healthy workers.

Results

We found five longitudinal studies, of which two observed an increase in work-re

SUBMITTER: Schaafsma FG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7797775 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature