Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Associations Between Occupational Status, Support at Work, and Salivary Cortisol Levels

  • Full length manuscript
  • Published:
International Journal of Behavioral Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The present study investigated associations between occupation, job stress, and salivary cortisol levels after psychological tasks.

Methods

We examined 766 (273 men and 493 women) healthy employed Japanese participants aged 21 to 68 years (mean age = 46.4 years, standard deviation = 8.5) with three types of occupation: manager, teacher, and general worker. The Brief Job Stress Questionnaire was used to evaluate participants’ job stress levels, including job demand, job control, support from supervisors, and support from coworkers. Salivary cortisol levels were measured at pre-session, post-stressful tasks, and post-relaxation. All samples were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Natural log transformation was applied before statistical analyses. A multiple regression analysis and a repeated measures analysis of covariance were conducted to test associations between occupation and salivary cortisol levels, adjusting for confounding factors. Statistical analyses were conducted separately for men and women.

Results

Among both men and women, general workers had higher cortisol levels than managers throughout the experimental session (men 0.6 μg/dL and 0.4 μg/dL, respectively; women 0.5 μg/dL and 0.4 μg/dL, respectively). Job control was positively associated with cortisol levels measured in all sessions, after adjusting for confounding factors (standardized beta 0.15, 0.21, and 0.18 for pre-session, post-stressful-tasks, and post-relaxation, respectively, all p < 0.05). Men with low support from coworkers had higher cortisol levels than those with high support through the sessions (0.6 μg/dL and 0.4 μg/dL, respectively).

Conclusion

Socioeconomic disparity according to occupational status was related to cortisol levels in Japanese workers. Support from coworkers may be effective for reducing cortisol secretion in men.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

Data Availability Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, [TO], upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Levi L, Bartley M, Marmot M et al. Stressors at the workplace: theoretical models. Occup Med. 2000;15(1):69–106.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Siegrist J, Marmot M. Health inequalities and the psychosocial environment-two scientific challenges. Soc Sci Med. 2004;58(8):1463–73.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Theorell T, Hammarström A, Aronsson G et al. A systematic review including meta-analysis of work environment and depressive symptoms. BMC Public Health. 2015;15:738.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Theorell T, Jood K, Järvholm LS et al. A systematic review of studies in the contributions of the work environment to ischaemic heart disease development. Eur J Public Health. 2016;26(3):470–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Kristenson M, Eriksen HR, Sluiter JK, Starke D, Ursin H. Psychobiological mechanisms of socioeconomic differences in health. Soc Sci Med. 2004;58(8):1511–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Karasek RA. Job demands, job decision latitude, and mental strain: implications for job redesign. Admin Sci Quart. 1979;24:285–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Johnson JV, Hall EM. Job strain, work place social support and cardiovascular disease: A cross sectional study of a random sample of the Swedish working population. Am J Pub Health. 1988;78:1336–42.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Henry JP. The relation of social to biological processes in disease. Soc Sci Med. 1982;16(4):369–80.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jevning R, Wilson AF, Davidson JM. Adrenocortical activity during meditation. Horm Behav. 1978;10(1):54-60.

  10. Sudsuang R, Chentanez V, Veluvan K. Effect of Buddhist meditation on serum cortisol and total protein levels, blood pressure, pulse rate, lung volume and reaction time. Physiol Behav. 1991;50(3):543-8.

  11. Kumari M, Badrick E, Chandola T et al. Measures of social position and cortisol secretion in an aging population: findings from the Whitehall II study. Psychosom Med. 2010;72(1):27–34.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Marchand A, Durand P, Lupien S. Work hours and cortisol variation from non-working to working days. Int Arch Occp Environ Healh. 2013;86(5):553–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Karlson B, Eek F, Hansen ÅM, Garde AH, Ørbæk P. Cortisol variability and self-reports in the measurement of work-related stress. Stress Health. 2011;27(2):e11-24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Parent-Lamarche A, Marchand A. The moderating role of personality traits in the relationship between work and salivary cortisol: a cross-sectional study of 401 employees in 34 Canadian companies. BMC Psychol. 2015;3:45.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Sjögren E, Leanderson P, Kristenson M. Diurnal saliva cortisol levels and relations to psychosocial factors in a population sample of middle-aged Swedish men and women. Int J Behav Med. 2006;13(3):193–200.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Frankenhaeuser M, Lundberg U, Forsman L. Dissociation between sympathetic-adrenal and pituitary-adrenal responses to an achievement situation characterized by high controllability: comparison between type A and type B males and females. Biol Psychol. 1980;10(2):79–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Thorsteinsson EB, James JE. A meta-analysis of the effects of experimental manipulations of social support during laboratory stress. Psychol Health. 1999;14(5):869–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Almeida DM, Davis KD, Lee S et al. Supervisor support buffers daily psychological and physiological reactivity to work-to-family conflict. J Marriage Fam. 2016;78(1):165–79.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Steptoe A, Kunz-Ebrecht S, Owen N et al. Socioeconomic status and stress-related biological responses over the working day. Psychosom Med. 2003;65(3):461–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Steptoe A, Ussher M. Smoking, cortisol and nicotine. Int J Psychophysiol. 2006;59(3):228–35.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Badrick E, Bobak M, Britton A, Kirschbaum C, Marmot M, Kumari M. The relationship between alcohol consumption and cortisol secretion in an aging cohort. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2008;93(3):750–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Kudielka BM, Kirschbaum C. Awakening cortisol responses are influenced by health status and awakening time but not by menstrual cycle phase. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2003;28(1):35–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Fiksdal A, Hanlin L, Kuras Y, Gianferante D, Chen X, Thoma MV, Rohleder N. Associations between symptoms of depression and anxiety and cortisol responses to and recovery from acute stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019;102:44–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fukuda Y, Nakamura K, Takano T. Accumulation of health risk behaviours is associated with lower socioeconomic status and women’s urban residence: a multilevel analysis in Japan. BMC Public Health. 2005;27(5):53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Saeki N, Hiroko T, Sakata F et al. Vital statistics by occupation and industry. Koseino Shihyo. 2000;47(1):10–6.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Hirokawa K, Nagayoshi M, Ohira T et al. Menopausal status in relation to cardiovascular stress reactivity in healthy Japanese participants. Psychosom Med. 2014;76:701–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hirokawa K, Ohira T, Nagayoshi M et al. Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate is associated with cardiovascular reactivity to stress in women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2016;69:116–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Hirokawa K, Ohira T, Nagayoshi M et al. Occupational status and job stress in relation to cardiovascular stress reactivity in Japanese workers. Prev Med Rep. 2016;19:61–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Shimomitsu T, Haratani T, Ohno Y. The final development of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire mainly used for assessment of the individuals (in Japanese). In: Kato M, editor. Ministry of Labour sponsored grant for the prevention of work-related illness: The 1999 report. Tokyo: Tokyo Med College. 2000; p. 126–64.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Radloff LS. The CES-D scale. A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Appl Psychol Meas. 1977;1:385–401.

  31. Shima S, Shikano T, Kitamura T et al. New self-rating scale for depression. Seishin Igaku. 1985;27:717–23 [in Japanese].

    Google Scholar 

  32. Nishimura A, Ohira T, Hori S, Hori A, Kitamura K, Nagasawa S. Effects of group music therapy on physical and psychological markers among healthy middle-aged and elderly people: an intervention trial. Jpn J Music Ther. 2007;7:12–28 [in Japanese].

    Google Scholar 

  33. Riis JL, Ahmadi H, Hamilton KR, Bryce CI, Blair C, Granger DA. The case for the repeatability intra-class correlation as a metric of precision for salivary bioscience data: Justification, assessment, application, and implications. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021;128:105203.

  34. Owens JF, Stoney CM, Matthews KA. Menopausal status influences ambulatory blood pressure levels and blood pressure changes during mental stress. Circulation. 1993;88(6):2794–802.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sato N, Miyake S. Cardiovascular reactivity to mental stress: relationship with menstrual cycle and gender. J Physiol Anthropol Appl Human Sci. 2004;23(6):215–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Schultz JH, Luthe W. Autogenic training: a psychophysiologic approach to psychotherapy. Calif Med. 1959;91(5):305.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Seo E, Hong E, Choi J et al. Effectiveness of autogenic training on headache: A systematic review. Complement Ther Med. 2018;39:62–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Li L, Power C, Kelly S, Kirschbaum C, Hertzman C. Life-time socio-economic position and cortisol patterns in mid-life. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007;32(7):824–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Garcia MC, de Souza A, Bella GP et al. Salivary cortisol levels in Brazilian citizens of distinct socioeconomic and cultural levels. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2008;1148:504–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Stephens MA, Wand G. Stress and the HPA axis role of glucocorticoids in alcohol dependence. Alcohol Res. 2012;34(4):468–83.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Peters ML, Godaert GLR, Ballieux R et al. Cardiovascular and endocrine responses to experimental stress: effects of mental effort and controllability. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1998;23:1–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Mizoguchi K, Yuzurihara M, Ishige A et al. Chronic stress differentially regulates glucocorticoid negative feedback response in rats. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2001;26(5):443–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Checkley S. The neuroendocrinology of depression and chronic stress. Br Med Bull. 1996;52(3):597–617.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. De Sio S, Letizia C, Petramala L et al. Work-related stress and cortisol levels: is there an association? Results of an observational study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018;22(24):9012–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Steptoe A, Cropley M, Griffith J, Kirschbaum C. Job strain and anger expression predict early morning elevations in salivary cortisol. Psychosom Med. 2000;62(2):286–92.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Marchand A, Juster RP, Durand P, Lupien SJ. Work stress models and diurnal cortisol variations: The SALVEO study. J Occup Health Psychol. 2016;21(2):182–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Evolahti A, Hultcrantz M, Collins A. Women’s work stress and cortisol levels: a longitudinal study of the association between the psychosocial work environment and serum cortisol. J Psychosom Res. 2006;61(5):645–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Persson R , Garde AH , Hansen ÅM , Österberg K , Larsson B , Ørbæ k P . Seasonal variation in human salivary cortisol concentration. Chronobiology International. 2008;25(6):923–37.

  49. Hirokawa K, Taniguchi T, Fujii Y. Job stress and agentic-communal personality traits related to serum cortisol levels of male workers in a Japanese medium-sized company: a cross-sectional study. Int J Behav Med. 2015;22(1):11–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Wege N, Dragano N, Erbel R et al. When does work stress hurt? Testing the interaction with socioeconomic position in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2008;62(4):338–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Hsieh CM, Tsai BK. Effects of social support on the stress-health relationship: gender comparison among military personnel. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(8) pii: E1317.

  52. Cohen S, McKay G. Social support, stress and the buffering hypothesis: a theoretical analysis. In: Baum A, Taylor SE, Singer JE, editors. Handbook of psychology and health. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum. 1984; p. 253–67.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Alves L, Azevedo A, Silva S et al. Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of nine established cardiovascular risk factors in a southern European population. PLoS One. 2012;7:e37158.

  54. Gaffey AE, Bergeman CS, Clark LA, Wirth MM. Aging and the HPA axis: Stress and resilience in older adults. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2016;68:928–45.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Hansen ÅM, Blangsted AK, Hansen EA, Søgaard K, Sjøgaard G. Physical activity, job demand- control, perceived stress- energy, and salivary cortisol in white-collar workers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2010;83(2):143–53.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This study was supported in part by KAKENHI grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (grant numbers: 22390123, 26670334, 15H04775, 19H03901) and the Japan Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Welfare Foundation (FULLHAP) to Tetsuya Ohira.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nursing, Baika Women’s University, 2-19-5 Shukunosho, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-8578, Japan

    Kumi Hirokawa

  2. Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita-shi, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

    Kumi Hirokawa, Tetsuya Ohira, Hironori Imano & Hiroyasu Iso

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan

    Tetsuya Ohira

  4. Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey Office of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikariga-oka, Fukushima City Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan

    Masanori Nagao

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan

    Mako Nagayoshi

  6. Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-8511, Japan

    Mitsugu Kajiura, Akihiko Kitamura, Masahiko Kiyama & Takeo Okada

Authors
  1. Kumi Hirokawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tetsuya Ohira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Masanori Nagao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Mako Nagayoshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mitsugu Kajiura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hironori Imano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Akihiko Kitamura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Masahiko Kiyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Takeo Okada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Hiroyasu Iso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kumi Hirokawa or Tetsuya Ohira.

Ethics declarations

Ethics Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hirokawa, K., Ohira, T., Nagao, M. et al. Associations Between Occupational Status, Support at Work, and Salivary Cortisol Levels. Int.J. Behav. Med. 29, 299–307 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-021-10020-2

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-021-10020-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation