Higher Cortisol Content in Hair Among Long-Term Unemployed Individuals Compared to Controls

    October 2008 in “ Experimental and Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes ”
    Antje Tietze, Lucia Dettenborn, F E Bruckner, Clemens Kirschbaum
    TLDR Long-term unemployment leads to higher stress levels.
    The study found that long-term unemployed individuals had higher cortisol content in their hair compared to employed controls, indicating increased cumulative cortisol exposure due to chronic stress. The research involved 31 unemployed and 28 employed women, with hair segmental analysis conducted on 3 cm segments. Results showed significant differences in cortisol levels in the first and second hair segments, representing the previous 6 months. The duration of unemployment correlated with higher hair cortisol content, and BMI was also related to cortisol levels, though it did not differ between groups. The study concluded that hair analysis is a valid method for detecting differences in cortisol exposure, but its retrospective accuracy is limited to 6 months due to a wash-out effect.
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