Hair Sampling for Physiological Stress Among Early Childhood Educators.

IF 2.2 4区 医学 Q1 NURSING
Randi A Bates, Walaa R Almallah, Bailey E Martin, Tharaa I Ananzeh, Christopher W Collen, Jaclyn M Dynia
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Despite expanding investigations of chronic physiological stress as measured by hair cortisol concentration among adults, there is little research examining chronic physiological stress among early childhood educators. Despite the "calling" of the career, these educators are at a unique increased risk for chronic stress due to earning stagnant, unlivable wages as compared to their K-12 educator colleagues and often being primary care providers to children and families experiencing intergenerational trauma. Because physiological stress may be linked to chronic disease later in life and may present differently than psychological stress, it is important to understand the feasibility of measuring chronic physiological stress, as commonly measured with hair cortisol, in this essential and unique population.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to examine the feasibility of collecting hair to measure cortisol concentration as an estimate of chronic physiological stress among early childhood educators by understanding variations in their participation.

Methods: Analyses of hair sampling participation of center-based educators by sociodemographic characteristics occurred across two pilot studies: one longitudinal (n = 67) conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021) and one cross-sectional (n = 31) occurring post-pandemic (2024). Educators were asked to provide hair samples for cortisol analysis to measure physiological stress and complete surveys on reasons for non-participation and their sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race, ethnicity, gender, and highest level of education.

Results: Educators' sociodemographic characteristics generally reflected nationally representative samples. Across the studies, 75.3% of educators participated in initial hair sampling. Collectively, the most common reason for non-participation was related to hairstyle or hair characteristics. Educators who were Black/African American or had less than a bachelor's degree in education were least likely to participate in hair sampling.

Discussion: Collecting hair for cortisol as a measure of physiological stress among early childhood educators is feasible. However, researchers may want to consider alternative measures of chronic physiological stress to promote equitable research practices among educators who are Black/African American or who have lower than a bachelor's degree in education. Given the importance of chronic physiological stress for health, avenues for future research are discussed.

背景:尽管对成人毛发皮质醇浓度测量慢性生理应激的研究不断扩大,但对幼儿教育工作者慢性生理应激的研究却很少。尽管这是一种“职业召唤”,但与K-12教育工作者的同事相比,这些教育工作者的收入停滞不前,无法维持生活,而且往往是经历代际创伤的儿童和家庭的初级保健提供者,因此他们面临慢性压力的风险更高。由于生理压力可能与生命后期的慢性疾病有关,并且可能表现得与心理压力不同,因此了解在这一重要和独特的人群中测量慢性生理压力的可行性很重要,因为通常用头发皮质醇来测量。目的:本研究的目的是通过了解幼儿教育工作者参与的变化,检验收集头发来测量皮质醇浓度作为慢性生理应激估计的可行性。方法:通过两项试点研究对中心教育工作者的头发采样参与情况进行社会人口学特征分析:一项是在COVID-19大流行期间(2021年)进行的纵向研究(n = 67),另一项是在大流行后(2024年)进行的横断面研究(n = 31)。教育工作者被要求提供头发样本进行皮质醇分析,以测量生理压力,并完成关于不参加的原因和他们的社会人口特征的调查,包括年龄、种族、民族、性别和最高教育水平。结果:教育工作者的社会人口学特征总体上反映了全国代表性样本。在这些研究中,75.3%的教育工作者参加了最初的头发取样。总的来说,不参加的最常见原因与发型或头发特征有关。黑人/非裔美国人或教育学士学位以下的教育工作者参与头发取样的可能性最小。讨论:收集毛发皮质醇作为早期儿童教育工作者生理应激的测量是可行的。然而,研究人员可能想要考虑慢性生理压力的替代措施,以促进黑人/非裔美国人或教育学位低于学士学位的教育工作者的公平研究实践。鉴于慢性生理应激对健康的重要性,讨论了未来研究的途径。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
Nursing Research
Nursing Research 医学-护理
CiteScore
3.60
自引率
4.00%
发文量
102
审稿时长
6-12 weeks
期刊介绍: Nursing Research is a peer-reviewed journal celebrating over 60 years as the most sought-after nursing resource; it offers more depth, more detail, and more of what today''s nurses demand. Nursing Research covers key issues, including health promotion, human responses to illness, acute care nursing research, symptom management, cost-effectiveness, vulnerable populations, health services, and community-based nursing studies. Each issue highlights the latest research techniques, quantitative and qualitative studies, and new state-of-the-art methodological strategies, including information not yet found in textbooks. Expert commentaries and briefs are also included. In addition to 6 issues per year, Nursing Research from time to time publishes supplemental content not found anywhere else.
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