Association Between Stress-Related Hormone Levels in Hair and Subjective Mental Health in Japanese Workers

This study examined the relationship between stress-related hormone levels in hair and subjective mental health among 102 full-time Japanese workers over three months. Hair samples were analyzed for cortisol (COR) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, while participants completed various mental health and stress-related questionnaires. The findings indicated that higher COR levels were negatively associated with aversive coping and emotional support-seeking, suggesting a link to reduced emotional-processing coping. DHEA levels were positively associated with job confidence. The study concluded that while COR and DHEA do not directly reflect stress, they may provide valuable insights into mental health and stress resistance.