Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers
IntroductionThis longitudinal study investigates to what extent salivary alpha-amylase (as an index of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, SNS), salivary cortisol (as an index of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, HPA, axis), and their ratio (reflecting asymmetry bet...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1492379/full |
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| author | Ida Schneider Alexander Wettstein Gabriel Jenni Fabienne Kühne Martin grosse Holtforth Martin grosse Holtforth Sebastian Wachs Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca |
| author_facet | Ida Schneider Alexander Wettstein Gabriel Jenni Fabienne Kühne Martin grosse Holtforth Martin grosse Holtforth Sebastian Wachs Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca |
| author_sort | Ida Schneider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThis longitudinal study investigates to what extent salivary alpha-amylase (as an index of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, SNS), salivary cortisol (as an index of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, HPA, axis), and their ratio (reflecting asymmetry between both physiological stress systems) are valid indicators of stress in teachers. Moreover, we pose the question of whether dysregulation of the SNS and HPA axis is associated with individual risk and protective factors of teachers.MethodsSelf-report questionnaires were used to assess personality factors, coping strategies, and perceived psychological and psychosomatic strain, with the latter being reassessed two years later.ResultsThe results show that cross-sectionally, alpha-amylase is positively associated with individual risk factors and psychological strain in teachers, whereas cortisol showed no significant correlations. Longitudinally, however, the ratio of alpha-amylase over cortisol was the most consistent indicator of stress in teachers, with higher values predicting a more unfavorable stress experience and psychosomatic strain.DiscussionIn summary, an asymmetry between activity of the SNS and the HPA axis validly indicates work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9358e208bd19412db4cdffb7f9acdf95 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-2392 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-9358e208bd19412db4cdffb7f9acdf952025-08-20T01:54:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-05-011610.3389/fendo.2025.14923791492379Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachersIda Schneider0Alexander Wettstein1Gabriel Jenni2Fabienne Kühne3Martin grosse Holtforth4Martin grosse Holtforth5Sebastian Wachs6Roberto La Marca7Roberto La Marca8Roberto La Marca9Department of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDepartment of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandPsychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandDigitalisation in Pedagogical Fields of Action, Institute of Education, University of Münster, Münster, GermanyDepartment of Research and Development, University of Teacher Education Bern, Bern, SwitzerlandClinica Holistica Engiadina, Susch, SwitzerlandClinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandIntroductionThis longitudinal study investigates to what extent salivary alpha-amylase (as an index of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, SNS), salivary cortisol (as an index of the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, HPA, axis), and their ratio (reflecting asymmetry between both physiological stress systems) are valid indicators of stress in teachers. Moreover, we pose the question of whether dysregulation of the SNS and HPA axis is associated with individual risk and protective factors of teachers.MethodsSelf-report questionnaires were used to assess personality factors, coping strategies, and perceived psychological and psychosomatic strain, with the latter being reassessed two years later.ResultsThe results show that cross-sectionally, alpha-amylase is positively associated with individual risk factors and psychological strain in teachers, whereas cortisol showed no significant correlations. Longitudinally, however, the ratio of alpha-amylase over cortisol was the most consistent indicator of stress in teachers, with higher values predicting a more unfavorable stress experience and psychosomatic strain.DiscussionIn summary, an asymmetry between activity of the SNS and the HPA axis validly indicates work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1492379/fullteacherstresscortisolalpha-amylaseratioambulatory assessment |
| spellingShingle | Ida Schneider Alexander Wettstein Gabriel Jenni Fabienne Kühne Martin grosse Holtforth Martin grosse Holtforth Sebastian Wachs Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca Roberto La Marca Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers Frontiers in Endocrinology teacher stress cortisol alpha-amylase ratio ambulatory assessment |
| title | Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| title_full | Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| title_fullStr | Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| title_short | Salivary alpha-amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| title_sort | salivary alpha amylase over cortisol ratio as a longitudinal indicator of work stress and psychosomatic strain in teachers |
| topic | teacher stress cortisol alpha-amylase ratio ambulatory assessment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1492379/full |
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