TLDR First Nation individuals had higher hair cortisol levels, indicating more chronic stress.
The study investigated hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress among 55 Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) volunteers compared to white volunteers in Canada. Results showed that WIFN participants had significantly higher median hair cortisol levels (177 ng/g) than the white controls (116 ng/g), indicating higher chronic stress levels. Factors such as gender, smoking status, and self-reported diabetes correlated with increased hair cortisol. The Perceived Stress Scale, which measures short-term stress, did not show differences between the groups, highlighting the distinction between chronic and acute stress. The study suggested that socioeconomic factors and poorer health might contribute to the elevated stress levels in the First Nation community.
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