Relationship of Hair Cortisol Concentration With Perceived and Somatic Stress Indices: Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

This cross-sectional pilot study examined the relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and stress indices in 51 predominantly male participants. The study found a weak inverse correlation between HCC and perceived stress, and a stronger, yet not statistically significant, positive correlation with somatic neuroendocrine stress indices. Despite considering factors like age, gender, and health conditions, no statistically significant associations were found at the P<.05 threshold. The study suggests that while HCC may reflect some aspects of physiological stress, its relationship with perceived stress and somatic measures requires further exploration, particularly considering potential resilience factors.