Hair cortisol and cortisone and psychological well-being: an analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Abstract

Objectives

The study aimed to investigate the cross-sectional association of hair cortisol and cortisone with multiple dimensions of psychological well-being in older adults.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 3899 participants aged ≥ 50 who provided hair samples in wave 6 (2012/13) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Psychological outcomes included evaluative well-being (life satisfaction), hedonic well-being (feelings of happiness, pleasure, depression and anxiety), and eudaimonic well-being (living a worthwhile life). Multivariable linear regressions were used to explore the relationship between hair cortisol and cortisone concentration and psychological well-being.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyles, body mass index and hair treatment factors, hair cortisol concentration was positively related to depressive symptoms (β = 0.130; 95% CI 0.036, 0.224) and anxiety (β = 0.158; 95% CI 0.005, 0.310) but was not associated with other aspects of psychological well-being. Higher hair cortisone levels were associated with higher depressive symptoms (β = 0.276; 95% CI 0.101, 0.450) and anxiety (β = 0.317; 95% CI 0.035, 0.599), lower life satisfaction (β = −0.352; 95% CI -0.600, −0.104), lower ratings of living a worthwhile life (β = −0.427; 95%CI -0.651, −0.203), and lower happiness (β = −0.277, 95%CI -0.514, −0.039) after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, lifestyle, BMI, and hair-related covariates. Subgroup analyses showed significant associations between hair cortisone and psychological well-being in those aged <65 and in female participants. There was a significant interaction between age and hair cortisone on anxiety, showing an association only in those aged<65.

Conclusions

We found robust associations between hair cortisone and different dimensions of positive psychological well-being, but the only significant association for hair cortisol was with depression and anxiety. Further research is needed to explore whether hair cortisone is a potentially valuable biomarker for psychological well-being and to confirm the directionality and potential relevance of stress-related interventions in aging populations.