The DOI matches its Crossref record; 153 of the 154 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Stress-related and basic determinants of hair cortisol in humans: A meta-analysis
Abstract
The analysis of hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) is a relatively new strategy to measure long-term cumulative cortisol levels, which is increasingly used in psychoneuroendocrinological research. Here, we conduct a first comprehensive meta-analysis of HCC research based on aggregated data from a total of 124 (sub)samples (66 independent studies; total N=10,289). We seek to answer two central questions: (i) Which covariates and basic features of HCC need to be considered in future research? (ii) What are the main determinants of HCC in terms of chronic stress exposure and mental health? Concerning basic characteristics, our findings identify several covariates to be considered (age, sex, hair washing frequency, hair treatment, oral contraceptive use), confirm a decline of HCC from the first to the second proximal 3cm hair segment, and show positive associations between HCC and short-term salivary cortisol measures. Regarding chronic stress, we show that stress-exposed groups on a whole exhibit 22% increased HCC. This long-term cortisol hypersecretion emerges particularly when stress is still ongoing at the time of study (+43% HCC) but is not present in conditions of past/absent stress (-9% HCC, n.s.). We also report evidence for 17%-reduced HCC in anxiety disorders, such as PTSD. Interestingly, no consistent associations with mood disorders and self-reports of perceived stress, depressiveness or social support are found. However, our findings reveal positive associations of HCC with stress-related anthropometric (body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio) and hemodynamic measures (systolic blood pressure). These meta-analytic results are discussed in the light of their practical implications and important areas for future inquiry are outlined.
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“Meta-analytic and descriptive reviews show that chronic stress is associated with elevated long-term cortisol secretion (Stalder et al., 2017; Staufenbiel et al., 2013), with stressor duration and recency since stressor onset being important factors in shaping basal cortisol levels (Miller et al., 2007).”
From More than a feeling: A unified view of stress measurement for population science (2018) · cites this paper as Stalder et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“Elevated hair cortisol levels in stressed populations have previously been found (reviewed in Stalder et al., 2017; Staufenbiel et al., 2013).”
From Chronic Stress, Hair Cortisol and Depression: A Prospective and Longitudinal Study of Medical Internship (2018) · cites this paper as Stalder et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“However, the first meta-analytic review, which included primarily cross-sectional studies, did not show consistent links with self-reported depressiveness (Stalder et al., 2017).”
From Chronic Stress, Hair Cortisol and Depression: A Prospective and Longitudinal Study of Medical Internship (2018) · cites this paper as Stalder et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“Cross-sectional studies have shown elevated hair cortisol in stressed populations (Stalder et al., 2017; Staufenbiel et al., 2013)”
From Chronic Stress, Hair Cortisol and Depression: A Prospective and Longitudinal Study of Medical Internship (2018) · cites this paper as Stalder et al., 2017
In the citing paper
“Our results are consistent with a recent meta-analysis that found no clear relationships between hair cortisol and self-reported depressiveness (Stalder et al., 2017).”
From Chronic Stress, Hair Cortisol and Depression: A Prospective and Longitudinal Study of Medical Internship (2018) · cites this paper as Stalder et al., 2017
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Ipercortisolismo funzionale e sue possibili conseguenze cliniche
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“…with an ongoing pregnancy and smoking > 15 cigarettes per day were excluded, because such conditions are associated with increased HCC (D’Anna -Hernandez et al., 2011; Feller et al., 2014; Stalder et al., 2017). a P Finally, hair samples indicating hair dye were not included in the data analysis.”
BackgroundSelf-citationAssociations between adversity in the family of origin and hair cortisol concentration in adulthood
Neppl, T. K., Diggs, O. N., Lohman, B. J., Lee, J., Russell, D. W., & Bronikowski, A. M. (2024) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22512 · Cited by 1
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“55 Stalder et al. 16 reported associations between HCC and ongoing exposure to stressors, but no association with self-reports of perceived stress.”
Cantave, C. Y., Ruttle, P. L., Côté, S. M., LUPIEN, S. J., Geoffroy, M., Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M. R., Tremblay, R. E., Boivin, M., & Ouellet‐Morin, I. (2024) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/s41366-024-01640-1 · Cited by 1
“Recent technological advances now enable the measurement of cortisol from hair, which is suggested to be a reliable marker of systemic cortisol secretion over time (i.e., months) that is less affected by time-variant confounders [16].”
InfluentialEugênio, C. S., Viola, T. W., Lumertz, F. S., Daltrozo, A. V. H., Saraiva, M. E. R., Casagrande, J. B., Zanin, R. F., & Boniatti, M. M. (2024) · Critical Care Science · doi:10.62675/2965-2774.20240043-en · Cited by 1
“(19) The following two-phase process of endocrine changes in response to traumatic stress has been suggested.”
BackgroundSánchez-Luquez, K., Karam, S. D. M., Barros, A. J. D., Gonzalez, A., Murray, J., Oliveira, I. O., Matijasevich, A., Santos, I. S., & Tovo‐Rodrigues, L. (2024) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1111/jir.13204 · Cited by 1
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“That is, the 1-cm hair segment closest to the scalp reflects testosterone secretion in the preceding month as hair typically grows approximately 1 cm per month (Stalder et al. 2017).”
Psychophysiological approaches to understanding the impact of trauma exposure
Rockstroh, B. S., & McTeague, L. M. (2019) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.13497 · Cited by 1
Tobias Stalder, A. (2020) · Brain Behavior and Immunity · doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.02.011 · Cited by 1
Qing, Y., van Zuiden, M., Eriksson, C. B., Cardozo, B. L., Simon, W., Ager, A., Snider, L., Sabin, M. L., Scholte, W. F., Kaiser, R., et al. (2020) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2020.1816649 · Cited by 1
“…childhood resulted in ongoing distress (i.e., sustained chronic stress) as a result of continued anticipated exposure over the course of the deployment in spite of low levels of actual exposure, resulting in longterm attenuated cortisol output (Miller, Chen, & Zhou, 2007; Stalder et al., 2017).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialMetabolic Pathways Underlying Neuropsychiatric Disorders and Obesity
Martins, L. B., Maurício, S. F., Ferreira, A. V. M., & Teixeira, A. L. (2020) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-53370-0_30 · Cited by 1
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Men
Terhaag, S., Pedder, D. J., Sbisa, A. M., & Forbes, D. (2021) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108646765.011 · Cited by 1
Borges, A. R. F., Rocha, A. H. G., Simões, Á. D. O., Vitorino, F. D. O., Fernandes, K. B., Tavares, R. F., & Peixoto, L. G. (2021) · Revista Ciência e Estudos Acadêmicos de Medicina · Cited by 1
Exploring associations between chronic stress, depression, and anxiety in people with aphasia
Smith, A. N. (2017) · ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) · Cited by 1
Rippon, D. (2018) · Northumbria Research Link (Northumbria University) · Cited by 1
Laudenslager, M. L., Simoneau, T. L., Mikulich‐Gilbertson, S. K., Brewer, B. W., Kilbourn, K. M., Gutman, J., & McSweeney, P. A. (2020) · doi:10.25302/1.2020.ce.13086208 · Cited by 1
Perceived Stress, Physiological Stress, and Mental Health in Parents and Children
Whitney, S. (2021) · UWSpace (University of Waterloo) · Cited by 1
Walther, A., Kirschbaum, C., Wehrli, S., Rothe, N., Wekenborg, M., Penz, M. S., & Gao, W. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/y8vuf · Cited by 1
Self-citationMéndez-Rivero, F., Pozo, Ó., & Julià, M. (2022) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2022.01.30.22270116
Valk, S. L., Engert, V., Puhlmann, L. M. C., Linz, R., Caldirou, B., Bernasconi, A., Bernasconi, N., Bernhardt, B. C., & Singer, T. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.03.03.531039 · Cited by 1
“In previous work, stemming from the same participant sample as examined here, we found a reduction in CAR specifically after the training of socio-affective capacities(6), and of acute stress reactivity after the training of socio-affective or socio-cognitive capacities (7).”
MethodBayot, M., Brianda, M. E., Waillet, N. V. D. S., Mikolajczak, M., Shankland, R., & Roskam, I. (2023) · SSRN Electronic Journal · doi:10.2139/ssrn.4495095 · Cited by 1
The impact of extinction timing on pre-extinction arousal and subsequent return of fearPreprint
Kampa, M., Stark, R. M., & Klucken, T. (2024) · Learning & Memory · doi:10.1101/lm.053902.123 · Cited by 1
“Posthocanalysesrevealednosex-dependentef-fectsexceptahigherbasalcortisollevelinmen(sex×timeinterac-tion, F (2,52) =4.680, P =0.014), which is consistent with another recent study and a meta-analysis on levels in hair cortisol (Stalder et al. 2017; Klinger-König et al. 2021).”
InfluentialSelf-citationReply to the commentary by Parrot and Downey (2017)
Tobias Stalder, A., Steudte‐Schmiedgen, S., Alexander, N., Klucken, T., Vater, A., Wichmann, S., Kirschbaum, C., & Miller, R. E. (2017) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.04.002
Self-citationSingle Hair Analysis Monitoring Concept for P4 Implementation
Baumgartner, M. R. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-67092-8_33
Stress, Biomarkers, and Resilience in Childhood and Adolescence: Advances in the Last Few Decades
Susman, E. J. (2019) · Emerging issues in family and individual resilience · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-05952-1_6
Bardaquim, V. A. (2019) · Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo) · doi:10.11606/t.22.2019.tde-07082019-182114
Wan, C. (2019) · uO Research (University of Ottawa) · doi:10.20381/ruor-23821
“Although many studies have examined stress reactivity of breast cancer survivors, most of the existing literature focuses on cortisol stress-related patterns in White participants (Couture-Lalande et al., 2014; Cantarero-Villanueva et al., 2011; Dedert et al., 2012; Dettenborn et al., 2012; Fernández-Lao et al., 2012;…”
BackgroundWalther, A., Walther, T., & Heald, A. H. (2020) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104788
Harkins, A. R., Lucas, A. P., & Strickland, D. L. (2020) · Student Anthropologist · doi:10.1002/j.sda2.20200701.0021
“Isotopic ratios and stress hormones deposited in hair keratin provide a permanent quantitative marker of diet and stress, respectively (e.g. Kusaka et al. 2016; Stalder et al. 2017).”
BackgroundArora, M., Curtin, P. C. P., Curtin, A., Austin, C. E., & Giuliani, A. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197582947.003.0003
P.0819 Usefulness of haircortisol as a biological correlate for resilience to everyday life stress
Neumann, R. J., Tenbuß, S., Ahrens, K. F., Kollmann, B., Kalisch, R., Lieb, K., Tüscher, O., Plichta, M. M., & Reif, A. (2021) · European Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.10.679
Kassai, R., Futó, J., & Takács, Z. K. (2022) · Magyar Pszichológiai Szemle · doi:10.1556/0016.2021.00032 · Cited by 2
Considerations for Development and Application of Health Monitoring Tools in Space
Kaufmann, I., Veres, T., Buchheim, J., & Choukèr, A. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-16996-1_21
Kubo, S., & Yasui, T. (2022) · Global Journal of Health Science · doi:10.5539/gjhs.v15n1p58
“Stalder et al. showed in a meta-analysis that HCCs were positively associated with stress-related anthropometric factors such as body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio and with systolic blood pressure (Stalder et al., 2017).”
Kapfhammer, H. (2022) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-662-65873-4_4
The German Job Search Panel 2.0: The Pandemic CohortPreprint
Schmidtke, J., Hetschko, C., Eid, M., Lawes, M., Schöb, R., & Stephan, G. (2023) · doi:10.31219/osf.io/szjrx
Steroids in urine, other fluids and tissues
Honour, J. W. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818124-9.00007-3
Larsson, G., Mažeikienė, A., & Smaliukienė, R. (2023) · Nordic Psychology · doi:10.1080/19012276.2023.2247571 · Cited by 1
“” The lack of coherence between biological and self-reported stress measures is in line with previous studies which failed to fi nd such an association (Stalder et al., 2017).”
Hochrein, R., Luck-Sikorski, C., Weinberger, N., Jung, F., Kratzsch, J., Bae, Y., Ceglarek, U., Gaudl, A., & Hilbert, A. (2023) · Adipositas - Ursachen Folgeerkrankungen Therapie · doi:10.1055/a-2079-9102
González, A., Catherine, N. L. A., Boyle, M., Jack, S. M., Atkinson, L. R., Kobor, M. S., Sheehan, D., Tonmyr, L., Waddell, C., & MacMillan, H. L. (2023) · doi:10.32920/24135084.v1
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Faresjö, Å., Theodorsson, E., Stomby, A., Quist, H., Jones, M. P., Östgren, C. J., Dahlqvist, P. M., & Faresjö, T. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3361875/v1
Martínez-Soto, J., Sánchez, M. D. L. L. C., Villada, C., Ruíz-Correa, S., & Zavala, H. A. (2023) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-3699134/v1
Bhardwaj, S., Kaur, R., Kumari, P., Sharma, S. K., Pasricha, C., Jamwal, N., Singh, R., Arora, P., Kaur, P., & Sahu, S. K. (2024) · BIO Web of Conferences · doi:10.1051/bioconf/20248601039
“Various studies on conditions of stress-related anxiety have reported the identification of illness by cortisol levels [101].”
BackgroundLi, Z., Kong, W., Park, H. Y., Koo, S. J., Bang, M., Park, J. T., Lee, E. M., & An, S. K. (2024) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.3401
Valk, S. L., Engert, V., Puhlmann, L. M. C., Linz, R., Caldirou, B., Bernasconi, A., Bernasconi, N., Bernhardt, B. C., & Singer, T. (2024) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.87634.2
Shkreli, L., Woud, M. L., Bergunde, L., Schindler‐Gmelch, L., Blackwell, S. E., Kirschbaum, C., Kessler, H., & Steudte‐Schmiedgen, S. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/e7krc
Self-citationHair steroid before and after COVID-19 in preschoolers: the moderation of family characteristics
Berger, É., Larose, M., Capuano, F., Letarte, M., Geoffroy, M., LUPIEN, S. J., Brendgen, M. R., Boivin, M., Vitaro, F., Tremblay, R. E., et al. (2024) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107072
“Because uncertainty remains regarding which confounders affect hair steroid concentrations (Russell et al., 2012; Stalder et al., 2017), a wide range of information about the child ’ s natural state of the hair (e. g., color, curvature), usual care (e.g., frequency of washing, treatments), and…”
Valk, S. L., Engert, V., Puhlmann, L. M. C., Linz, R., Caldirou, B., Bernasconi, A., Bernasconi, N., Bernhardt, B. C., & Singer, T. (2024) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.87634.3
Bock-Marquette, I., Gallyas, F., Rendeki, S., Faskerti, G., & Lippai, B. (2024) · Advances in biochemistry in health and disease · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-62806-1_22
Wigley, I. L. C. M., Mustonen, P., Karlsson, L., Nolvi, S., Scheinin, N. M., Kortesluoma, S., Pastore, M., Tervahartiala, K., Coimbra, B., Rodrigues, A. J., et al. (2024) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2024.09.06.610927
Swaminathan, K., MacDonald, S., & Doan, S. N. (2024) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22548
Eder, J., Kräter, M., Kirschbaum, C., Gao, W., Wekenborg, M., Penz, M., Rothe, N., Guck, J. R., Wittwer, L. D., & Walther, A. (2024) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-024-01902-z
“Thus, many reports also identify reduced hair cortisol levels or more complex patterns in MDD, especially in conjunction with experienced trauma [ 45 , 74–76].”
Self-citationEugênio, C. S., Viola, T. W., Lumertz, F. S., Daltrozo, A. V. H., Saraiva, M. E. R., Casagrande, J. B., Zanin, R. F., & Boniatti, M. M. (2024) · Critical Care Science · doi:10.62675/2965-2774.20240043-pt
Rosengarten, M. L., Sandre, A., Troller‐Renfree, S. V., Shuffrey, L. C., Amarante, M., Bakhoya, M., & Noble, K. G. (2024) · Developmental Psychobiology · doi:10.1002/dev.22557
Zamudio‐Haas, S., de Carvalho, P. G. C., Marr, A., Mocello, A. R., Moscatelli, A., Bassichetto, K. C., Saggese, G. S. R., Prado, P. V., Gerona, R. R. L., Lippman, S. A., et al. (2024) · Brain and Behavior · doi:10.1002/brb3.70156
Letter to the editor “Quality of life of caregivers of patients on home enteral nutrition”
Martins, J. C. D. C., Fernandes, M. S. D. S., & de Souza, R. F. (2024) · Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2024.12.002
Mendes, W. B. (2024) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781009170123.019
Цебенко, М. О., Билец, М. В., Omelchenko, O., Spivak, M. Y., & Непорада, К. С. (2025) · Medical and Clinical Chemistry · doi:10.11603/mcch.2410-681x.2024.i4.15119
Bilodeau-Houle, A., Duplessis-Marcotte, F., Raymond, C., Primiani, R., & Marin, M. (2025) · Journal of Neural Transmission · doi:10.1007/s00702-025-02898-z
“After the hair collection, parents completed a home-based and type [e.g., curly]; Stalder et al. 2017 ) should be included as covariates.”
InfluentialDeep phenotyping to understand hearing and hearing disorders: Protocol for a feasibility study
Spriggs, R. V., Bateman, P. K., Sánchez-López, R., Thornton, S. K., Phillips, O. R., Hoare, D. J., & Wiggins, I. M. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0320418
“…posterior vertex of the head as close to the scalp as possible (see demonstration at https://youtu.be/jWt_XWlcl5Y) and the samples processed (using a 3 cm segment from the scalp-near end) using commercial assays and standard protocols to measure cortisol levels over the previous 3 months [38, 39].”
Central Neurobiological Mechanisms of Stress Resistance in Post-Traumatic Stress States
Kondashevskaya, M. V., Artemyeva, К. А., & Алексанкина, В. В. (2025) · Neuroscience and Behavioral Physiology · doi:10.1007/s11055-025-01785-0
“Some people suffering from PTSD, with low cortisol levels in the blood, saliva, and hair, were found to have signi fi cantly increased GR sensitivity [Somvanshi et al., 2020; Stalder et al., 2017].”
(2025) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-3-437-21835-4.00116-5
Heumann, J., Quednow, B. B., Chumbley, J. R., Eisner, M., Ribeaud, D., Shanahan, L., & Shanahan, M. J. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.05.11.652731
“Cortisol models used corrected cortisol as the outcome, adjusted for hair-related covariates—including color, washing frequency, treatments [56]—by adding residuals from a bootstrap-enhanced lasso regression [98] to the mean, with precision weights based on the inverse variance of corrected…”
León, G. A., Morris, A. R., Sellery, P., & Saxbe, D. (2025) · Stress and Health · doi:10.1002/smi.70051
The Psychobiology of Life Stress Events and Disease
Biondi, M. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-87144-3_5
Markousis‐Mavrogenis, G., Bacopoulou, F., Chrousos, G. P., & Mavrogeni, S. I. (2025) · Diagnostics · doi:10.3390/diagnostics15131712
“However, the current evidence relies on small-scale cross-sectional studies [53,54].”
Wintmolders, M., Cuyvers, B., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., van IJzendoorn, M. H., & Bosmans, G. (2025) · Infant and Child Development · doi:10.1002/icd.70049
Bergunde, L., Woud, M. L., Shkreli, L., Schindler‐Gmelch, L., Garthus‐Niegel, S., Blackwell, S. E., Kirschbaum, C., Kessler, H., & Steudte‐Schmiedgen, S. (2025) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-025-03476-3
“Patients self-report the degree of anxiety symptoms over the past week on 21 items using a 4-point Likert scale.”
Self-citationSezer, B., Albers, J. D., Meisters, R., Schram, M. T., de Galan, B. E., Elbadawi, S. M. M., Koster, A., & Bosma, H. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107589
Dijkema, J. S., Böhmer, M. N., Bindels, P., Festen, D. A. M., & Oppewal, A. (2025) · Journal of Intellectual Disability Research · doi:10.1111/jir.70040
“Glucocorticoids diffuse from blood capillaries to hair follicles, where they integrate into the strands and remain stored for months (Heimbürge et al. 2020; Hodes et al. 2018; Stalder et al. 2017).”
Thomas, K. S., Ponnuri, A. S. S., Latheef, S., Otim, M. L., & Sabu, N. M. (2025) · Cosmoderma · doi:10.25259/csdm_118_2025
Verhagen, M., Vries, C. R., van Loon, L. M. A., Stoopendaal, M., Raaijmakers, L. G. M., Huizink, A. C., van den Berg, S. A. A., & Mathijssen, J. J. P. (2025) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2025.10.07.25337469
Psychological Predictors of Increased Weight in an Australian Community SamplePreprint
Johnston, R. L., Wilson, J. W., Hanstock, T. L., & Douglas, H. E. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7758628/v1
Casati, S., Palmisano, E., Scampini, B., Angeli, I., Bergamaschi, R. F., Ravelli, A., Minoli, M., & Orioli, M. (2025) · Journal of Laboratory Medicine · doi:10.1515/labmed-2025-0112
“Previous research, such as the study by Stalder et al. [10], estimated an approximate 22 % increase in hair cortisol concentrations in groups exposed to long-term stress (e.g., work stress), with a more pronounced e ff ect if the chronic stress was ongoing at the time of analysis [11, 12].”
Changes in hair cortisol during retirement transition: the Finnish retirement and aging study
Kuusento, K., Kortesluoma, S., Myllyntausta, S., Vahtera, J., Karlsson, L., & Stenholm, S. (2025) · Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.cpnec.2025.100325
“Hair treatment such as the hair washing frequency has previously been associated with hair cortisol [16].”
Whyte, S., Skillington, K. M., Cândido, C., Zhang, Y., Fatourehchi, D., Finlay, S., Chan, H. F., Kaburagi, R., McDonnell, K. J., Viana, M. R., et al. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-22934-y
“Sample preparation and analysis using ELISA was based on the protocol by Stalder et al. 2017 37 with minor modifications.”
Echarri-Lorente, J. D., Baos-González, M. Á., Mariño-Narváez, C., Sánchez-Megías, C., González-Pérez, R., & Peralta‐Ramírez, M. I. (2025) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-7967566/v1
Health risk behaviours, mental health and HbA1c: an overview of reviews of observational studies
Mazumdar, S., Almeda, N., Bagheri, N., Daniel, M., Tabatabaei‐Jafari, H., Leigh, G., Díaz-Milanés, D., & Salvador‐Carulla, L. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2024-092657
“28 Another important biomarker is glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), which has been associated with a number of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even mental disorders.”
Kortesluoma, S., Tervahartiala, K., Perasto, L., Pulli, E. P., Mustonen, P., Zangrandi, M. M., Korja, R., Deater-Deckard, K. D., Karlsson, H., Carter, A. S., et al. (2025) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2025.105862
Lynæs, C., Ravn, S. L., Skou, S. T., Mogensen, C. B., Arvig, M. D., Christensen, S. W., Sterling, M. M., & Andersen, T. E. (2025) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099236
“43 Using hair cortisol as a measure of pretrauma stress allows us to explore whether it signifies a stress response either to the accident or to pre-existing stress.”
Wilson, K. L., Boettner, B. L., Browning, C. R., Ford, J. L., & Way, B. M. (2025) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107722
Karayeva, E., & Kim, S. J. (2025) · AJPM Focus · doi:10.1016/j.focus.2025.100472
“15,16 Studies documented a positive association between HCC and chronic stress, which has been shown to be related to perceived social stress, discrimination, and depression.”
University Exams and Psychosocial Stress: Effects on Cortisol Rhythmicity in Students
Borghi, F., da Silva, P. C., Farias-Silva, E., Canova, F. B., de Souza, A. L., Arouca, A. B., & Grassi-Kassisse, D. M. (2025) · Clinical Endocrinology · doi:10.1111/cen.70083 · Cited by 4
“Hair cortisol provides a valuable retrospective reflection of cortisol release over several months.”
InfluentialWacker, E., Fischer, A., & Schorlemmer, J. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14443101
Aleid, A. M., Mohaini, M. A., & Aldanyowi, S. N. (2024) · Cuestiones de Fisioterapia · doi:10.48047/cu/54/01/98-107
Nyengaard, R., Kallesøe, K. H., Rimvall, M. K., Ørnbøl, E., Wellnitz, K. B., Olsen, E. M., Wyller, V. B., & Rask, C. U. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26677145
Verheyen, V. J., Rémy, S., Lambrechts, N., Govarts, E., Colles, A., Poelmans, L., Verachtert, E., Lefebvre, W., Monsieurs, P., Vanpoucke, C., et al. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.13939978
Haugen, T., Halvorsen, J. Ø., Friborg, O., Simpson, M. R., Mork, P. J., Mikkelsen, G., Elklit, A., Rothbaum, B. O., Schei, B., & Hagemann, C. T. (2023) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.22601245
Hair stress hormones in individuals with a recent suicide attempt experiencing a depressive episode
Colic, L., Seiffert, A. K., Bahlmann, L., Zerekidze, A., Walther, J., McClain, L., Besteher, B., Pereira, F., Abbar, M., Walter, M., et al. (2025) · Neurobiology of Stress · doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2025.100776
“Although some reviews suggest that the self-reported measures do not relate with stress hormones measured in hair (Malisiova et al., 2021; Stalder et al., 2017), assessing multiple domains of experienced stress longitudinally may provide a better picture on the functionality of stress response…”
Jones, M. T., Cronin, R. A., Marques, M. D., Weigl, M., Rohleder, N., Becker, L., Kaltenegger, H. C., & Wright, B. J. (2025) · Brain Behavior & Immunity - Health · doi:10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101158
“Stalder ’ s meta-analysis (2017) found no association between perceived stress and HCC. Stalder ’ s findings are at odds with other meta-analyses that examined stress and other cortisol measures.”
InfluentialNaddafha, S., Sangari, M., Babaii, F., & Eskandari, Z. (2026) · Sport Sciences for Health · doi:10.1007/s11332-025-01601-9
“Recent estimates suggest that ~ 18% of adolescents (≈324 million) are overweight or obese, alongside rising rates of depression and anxiety [8].”
Metadata
- Authors
- Stalder, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Alexander, N., Klucken, T., Vater, A., Wichmann, S., Kirschbaum, C., & Miller, R.
- Affiliations
- Universität Hamburg (DE)
- University of Siegen (DE)
- Technische Universität Dresden (DE)
- MSB Medical School Berlin (DE)
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-03
- Volume
- 77
- Pages
- 261-274
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2512922965
- Semantic Scholar
- 78b482bd463a2e29e2aae66b9cf8e24a66b06fe6
- Cited by
- 855
- References
- 154
- Citations by year
- 2026: 83 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 123 · 2023: 101 · 2022: 88 · 2021: 111 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 74 · 2018: 56 · 2017: 23
- FWCI
- 5.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- German Research Foundation (1213/5-1, 940/2)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Keywords
- hair cortisol, chronic stress, cortisol hypersecretion, salivary cortisol, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood disorders, perceived stress, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, hair treatment, oral contraceptive use
- MeSH terms
- Hair, Hemodynamics, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Stress, Psychological
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