ArticleAnalytical science advances2025
A Dual Biomarker Approach to Stress: Hair and Salivary Cortisol Measurement in Students via LC-MS/MS.
Article in Analytical science advances, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Open-label placebo effects on psychological distress and hair cortisol in a randomized controlled trial - the moderating role of the five-factor personality traits.Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology · 2026Article
- Correlation between mild cognitive impairment and flourishing among Chinese residents: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Observational
- Impact of school support on cognitive engagement strategies in crisis contexts: dual pathways of academic motivation and psychological resilience.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Willingness to wait covaries with endogenous variation in cortisol.Frontiers in psychology · 2025Article
- Chemical element profiling in hair of bipolar disorder patients and healthy controls.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
Stress is a significant issue among students, affecting both their mental and physical health. In this study, we investigated cortisol levels, a key biomarker for stress, in students at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) during their exam period. Using a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology we measured cortisol concentrations in hair and saliva samples and explored the potential correlation between exam-induced stress and cortisol levels. The results revealed an increase in cortisol levels during the exam period, with male students showing an average hair cortisol concentration of 150.625 pg/mg and female students displaying an average of 77.756 pg/mg. Salivary cortisol levels ranged from 0.002 to 9.189 ng/mL, with an overall average of 4.505 ng/mL. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in cortisol levels between male and female students, underscoring the impact of exam-related stress on both acute and chronic stress markers. This study underscores the importance of addressing academic stress and suggests targeted strategies to mitigate its impact on student health ultimately fostering an environment encouraging both academic success and psychological well-being within the student community. Future research directions include exploring additional clinical parameters and expanding the study population to further understand the long-term effects of academic stress.
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