BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is hypothesized to be an important pathway linking socioeconomic position and chronic disease. PURPOSE: This paper tests the association between education and the diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol. METHODS: Up to eight measures of cortisol (mean of 5.38 per respondent) over 2 days were obtained from 311 respondents, aged 18-70, drawn from the 2001-2002 Chicago Community Adult Health Study. Multi-level models with linear splines were used to estimate waking level, rates of cortisol decline, and area-under-the-curve over the day, by categories of education. RESULTS: Lower education (0-11 years) was associated with lower waking levels of cortisol, but not the rate of decline of cortisol, resulting in a higher area-under-the-curve for more educated respondents throughout the day. CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence of lower cortisol exposure among individuals with less education and thus does not support the hypothesis that less education is associated with chronic over-exposure to cortisol.
BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is hypothesized to be an important pathway linking socioeconomic position and chronic disease. PURPOSE: This paper tests the association between education and the diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol. METHODS: Up to eight measures of cortisol (mean of 5.38 per respondent) over 2 days were obtained from 311 respondents, aged 18-70, drawn from the 2001-2002 Chicago Community Adult Health Study. Multi-level models with linear splines were used to estimate waking level, rates of cortisol decline, and area-under-the-curve over the day, by categories of education. RESULTS: Lower education (0-11 years) was associated with lower waking levels of cortisol, but not the rate of decline of cortisol, resulting in a higher area-under-the-curve for more educated respondents throughout the day. CONCLUSIONS: This study found evidence of lower cortisol exposure among individuals with less education and thus does not support the hypothesis that less education is associated with chronic over-exposure to cortisol.
Authors: Jeffrey D Morenoff; James S House; Ben B Hansen; David R Williams; George A Kaplan; Haslyn E Hunte Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2007-07-20 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Gary D Sherman; Jooa J Lee; Amy J C Cuddy; Jonathan Renshon; Christopher Oveis; James J Gross; Jennifer S Lerner Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2012-09-24 Impact factor: 11.205
Authors: Arun S Karlamangla; Esther M Friedman; Teresa E Seeman; Robert S Stawksi; David M Almeida Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2013-07-04 Impact factor: 4.905
Authors: D Phuong Do; Ana V Diez Roux; Anjum Hajat; Amy H Auchincloss; Sharon Stein Merkin; Nalini Ranjit; Steven Shea; Teresa Seeman Journal: Health Place Date: 2011-01-14 Impact factor: 4.078
Authors: Carol E Franz; Kelly Spoon; Wesley Thompson; Richard L Hauger; Dirk H Hellhammer; Kristen C Jacobson; Sonia Lupien; Michael J Lyons; Jeanne McCaffery; Ruth McKenzie; Sally P Mendoza; Matthew S Panizzon; Ana Ramundo; Afrand Shahroudi; William S Kremen Journal: Psychoneuroendocrinology Date: 2013-05-16 Impact factor: 4.905