Variables sociodemográficas, hábitos de vida y niveles de cortisol en adultos de México

Abstract

Objective.
The objective of this research was to determine whether demographic and lifest
yle variables
correlated with levels of salivary cortisol in a sample of adults in Mexico
, and to obtain the average of the
circadian cycle of salivary cortisol as a reference for future research.
Method.
The overall average and the
circadian cycle of cortisol were analyzed in 3,414 salivary samples taken in 12 s
tudies in Mexico. Also
examined were differences in the aforementioned hormone, based on variables related t
o age, gender and
the consumption or no consumption of cigarettes.
Results.
A decrease was observed in the concentration of
cortisol as the participants advanced in age; also identified was a normal
circadian pattern, but with higher
levels in the sample studied. Finally, no significant differences were fo
und between the concentrations of
cortisol between women and men, or between smokers and non-smokers.
Conclusion.
Under discussion are
the conceptual, methodological implications and practices resulting from th
e findings, for the development of
future research as well as for their study in relation to the phenomena of
health and disease.