THE EFFECT OF DAILY HASSLES ON SALIVARY CORTISOL

Daily hassles are viewed as risk factors for the development of psychosomatic symptoms. We examined the effect of daily hassles on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, especially on the concentration of salivary cortisol. 120 subjects were beeped six times per day by a preprogrammed wristwatch in order to assess mood and daily stressors. Saliva samples were collected about 25 min after each mood and stressor assessment. Subjects participated in the study for two consecutive weekdays. Results showed that the experience of a stressful event was significantly associated with increased salivary cortisol levels. The anticipation of a stressful event and the occupation with a problem did not influence cortisol levels. A negative affect was associated with increased and a positive affect was associated with decreased cortisol concentrations. Daily stressors influenced the concurrent mood and may therefore also indirectly affect cortisol levels. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed.