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
{"title":"Hair Sampling for Physiological Stress Among Early Childhood Educators.","authors":"Randi A Bates, Walaa R Almallah, Bailey E Martin, Tharaa I Ananzeh, Christopher W Collen, Jaclyn M Dynia","doi":"10.1097/NNR.0000000000000815","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>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.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>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.</p>","PeriodicalId":49723,"journal":{"name":"Nursing Research","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Nursing Research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000815","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"NURSING","Score":null,"Total":0}
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.

求助全文
约1分钟内获得全文 求助全文
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.
×
引用
GB/T 7714-2015
复制
MLA
复制
APA
复制
导出至
BibTeX EndNote RefMan NoteFirst NoteExpress
×
提示
您的信息不完整,为了账户安全,请先补充。
现在去补充
×
提示
您因"违规操作"
具体请查看互助需知
我知道了
×
提示
确定
请完成安全验证×
copy
已复制链接
快去分享给好友吧!
我知道了
右上角分享
点击右上角分享
0
联系我们:info@booksci.cn Book学术提供免费学术资源搜索服务,方便国内外学者检索中英文文献。致力于提供最便捷和优质的服务体验。 Copyright © 2023 布克学术 All rights reserved.
京ICP备2023020795号-1
ghs 京公网安备 11010802042870号
Book学术文献互助
Book学术文献互助群
群 号:481959085
Book学术官方微信