Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants

Åse Marie Hansen; Jane Frølund Thomsen; Anette Kaergaard; Henrik Albert Kolstad; Linda Kaerlev; Ole Mors; Reiner Rugulies; Jens Peter Bonde; Johan Hvid Andersen; Sigurd Mikkelsen

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005

Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants

Åse Marie Hansen, Jane Frølund Thomsen, Anette Kaergaard, Henrik Albert Kolstad, Linda Kaerlev, Ole Mors, Reiner Rugulies, Jens Peter Bonde, Johan Hvid Andersen, Sigurd Mikkelsen

35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC _morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.

Original language	English
Journal	Psychoneuroendocrinology
Volume	37
Issue number	7
Pages (from-to)	1086-1095
Number of pages	10
ISSN	0306-4530
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005
Publication status	Published - Jul 2012

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title = "Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants",

abstract = "Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.",

author = "Hansen, {{\AA}se Marie} and Thomsen, {Jane Fr{\o}lund} and Anette Kaergaard and Kolstad, {Henrik Albert} and Linda Kaerlev and Ole Mors and Reiner Rugulies and Bonde, {Jens Peter} and Andersen, {Johan Hvid} and Sigurd Mikkelsen",

year = "2012",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005",

language = "English",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants

AU - Hansen, Åse Marie

AU - Thomsen, Jane Frølund

AU - Kaergaard, Anette

AU - Kolstad, Henrik Albert

AU - Kaerlev, Linda

AU - Mors, Ole

AU - Rugulies, Reiner

AU - Bonde, Jens Peter

AU - Andersen, Johan Hvid

AU - Mikkelsen, Sigurd

PY - 2012/7

Y1 - 2012/7

N2 - Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.

AB - Objective: The present study used information from a field study conducted among 4489 civil servants (70% women) in Denmark in 2007. The purpose was to examine the association between sleep problems and salivary cortisol by using a cross-sectional design with repeated measures in a subsample three-month later. Methods: Sleep problems during the past night and the past 4 weeks were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire on overall sleep quality, disturbed sleep, sleep length and awakening problems. Saliva samples were collected in a single day, using cotton tubes, 30. min after awakening and again at 2000. h. A subsample of 387 participants collected saliva samples three-month later at awakening, +20. min and +40. min after awakening and at 2000. h. We adjusted for confounders related to sampling time, life style and personal characteristics, socioeconomic status and work aspects. Results: Sleep problems during the past four weeks were associated with low morning and evening saliva cortisol concentrations: [-3.1% per score of disturbed sleep (p=.009); and -4.7% per score of awakening problems (p<.001)]. Whereas sleep problems were not related with slope (the morning to evening change in cortisol levels). Awakening problems predicted lower cortisol (-7.51% per score; p=.003) three-month later. Cortisol awakening response (CAR) and slope three-month later were significantly associated with disturbed sleep (-7.84% and -8.24%) and awakening problems (-6.93). Area under the curve (AUC morning) increased with disturbed sleep (3.77%). Conclusion: Surprisingly, low morning cortisol was associated with increased sleep problems during a four-week period prior to sampling among 4066 Danish civil servants. At follow-up three-month later, those with sleep problems had a flattened cortisol profile. Those with awakening problems also had low salivary cortisol in general.

U2 - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005

DO - 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.005

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22208999

SN - 0306-4530

VL - 37

SP - 1086

EP - 1095

JO - Psychoneuroendocrinology

JF - Psychoneuroendocrinology

IS - 7

ER -

Salivary cortisol and sleep problems among civil servants

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