ERIC Number: EJ1158274
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Oct
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1092-4388
EISSN: N/A
Investigating the Role of Salivary Cortisol on Vocal Symptoms
Holmqvist-Jämsén, Sofia; Johansson, Ada; Santtila, Pekka; Westberg, Lars; von der Pahlen, Bettina; Simberg, Susanna
Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, v60 n10 p2781-2791 Oct 2017
Purpose: We investigated whether participants who reported more often occurring vocal symptoms showed higher salivary cortisol levels and if such possible associations were different for men and women. Method: The participants (N = 170; men n = 49, women n = 121) consisted of a population-based sample of Finnish twins born between 1961 and 1989. The participants submitted saliva samples for hormone analysis and completed a web questionnaire including questions regarding the occurrence of 6 vocal symptoms during the past 12 months. The data were analyzed using the generalized estimated equations method. Results: A composite variable of the vocal symptoms showed a significant positive association with salivary cortisol levels (p < 0.001). Three of the 6 vocal symptoms were significantly associated with the level of cortisol when analyzed separately (p values less than 0.05). The results showed no gender difference regarding the effect of salivary cortisol on vocal symptoms. Conclusions: There was a positive association between the occurrence of vocal symptoms and salivary cortisol levels. Participants with higher cortisol levels reported more often occurring vocal symptoms. This could have a connection to the influence of stress on vocal symptoms because stress is a known risk factor of vocal symptoms and salivary cortisol can be seen as a biomarker for stress.
Descriptors: Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Gender Differences, Metabolism, Twins, Questionnaires, Correlation, Foreign Countries, Stress Variables, Adults, Speech Communication
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A