Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain

Stress physiology contributes to health outcomes. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is an objective measure of cumulative cortisol secretion associated with health, including pain. The aim of the current study was to describe associations between pre-injury stress physiology (as measured by HCC), ac...

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Main Authors: Wendy Gaultney, Jacqueline R. O'Brien, Jessica Heierle, Eleanor A.J. Battison, Anna Wilson, Cynthia Rovnaghi, Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand, Amy Holley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497624000432
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author Wendy Gaultney
Jacqueline R. O'Brien
Jessica Heierle
Eleanor A.J. Battison
Anna Wilson
Cynthia Rovnaghi
Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand
Amy Holley
author_facet Wendy Gaultney
Jacqueline R. O'Brien
Jessica Heierle
Eleanor A.J. Battison
Anna Wilson
Cynthia Rovnaghi
Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand
Amy Holley
author_sort Wendy Gaultney
collection DOAJ
description Stress physiology contributes to health outcomes. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is an objective measure of cumulative cortisol secretion associated with health, including pain. The aim of the current study was to describe associations between pre-injury stress physiology (as measured by HCC), acute pain characteristics and relevant demographic factors (i.e., BMI, age, sex, days since injury) in youth with an acute musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Participants were 58 youth aged 11 to 17 with acute MSK pain. Participants completed self-report measures assessing pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and pain interference. Hair was collected within 1 month after injury using hair cortisol collection procedures adapted from published research protocols. Correlations examining associations among HCC values and clinical/demographic factors revealed that higher HCC was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and male sex. HCC was not associated with pain variables or age. Additional research is needed to clarify the relation between HCC and psychosocial variables to aid researchers in studying the role of pre-injury stress in acute MSK injury and pain recovery in youth.
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series Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
spelling doaj-art-9c2e83b288ab4ec1a70a1a5ed36acdaa2025-08-20T02:52:30ZengElsevierComprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology2666-49762024-11-012010026710.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100267Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal painWendy Gaultney0Jacqueline R. O'Brien1Jessica Heierle2Eleanor A.J. Battison3Anna Wilson4Cynthia Rovnaghi5Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand6Amy Holley7University of Colorado, Anschutz School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, USA; Corresponding author. 13123 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, CO, 80045, Canada.Division of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, USADivision of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, USADivision of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, USADivision of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, USADepartment of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, USADivision of Psychology, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, USAStress physiology contributes to health outcomes. Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is an objective measure of cumulative cortisol secretion associated with health, including pain. The aim of the current study was to describe associations between pre-injury stress physiology (as measured by HCC), acute pain characteristics and relevant demographic factors (i.e., BMI, age, sex, days since injury) in youth with an acute musculoskeletal (MSK) injury. Participants were 58 youth aged 11 to 17 with acute MSK pain. Participants completed self-report measures assessing pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and pain interference. Hair was collected within 1 month after injury using hair cortisol collection procedures adapted from published research protocols. Correlations examining associations among HCC values and clinical/demographic factors revealed that higher HCC was associated with lower body mass index (BMI) and male sex. HCC was not associated with pain variables or age. Additional research is needed to clarify the relation between HCC and psychosocial variables to aid researchers in studying the role of pre-injury stress in acute MSK injury and pain recovery in youth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497624000432StressHair cortisolPainYouth
spellingShingle Wendy Gaultney
Jacqueline R. O'Brien
Jessica Heierle
Eleanor A.J. Battison
Anna Wilson
Cynthia Rovnaghi
Kanwaljeet J.S. Anand
Amy Holley
Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology
Stress
Hair cortisol
Pain
Youth
title Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
title_full Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
title_fullStr Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
title_full_unstemmed Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
title_short Hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
title_sort hair cortisol sampling as a measure of physiological stress in youth with acute musculoskeletal pain
topic Stress
Hair cortisol
Pain
Youth
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497624000432
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