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 monthly for cortisol (COR) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 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 behaviors, suggesting that physical stress might hinder emotional coping. Conversely, DHEA levels were positively linked to job confidence, indicating its potential role in stress resistance. Although COR and DHEA do not directly reflect stress, they may provide insights into mental health.