Table 1 Associations between different sociodemographic factors, health indicators and cortisol concentrations

Self-reported health (min/max: 2/10)

110

-

-

−0.21

0.027^##)

−0.21

0.029

Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) (min/max: 2/33)

110

-

-

0.20

0.041^##)

0.21

0.031

HAD-depression (min/max: 0/10

110

-

-

0.23

0.014^##)

0.23

0.016

HAD-anxiety (min/max: 0/15)

110

-

-

0.13

0.185^##)

0.15

0.131

Age (min/max: 22/66)

110

0.09

0.36^##)

-

-

Serious life events

0.12

0.231^#)

-

-

Yes

23 (21)

65.1

54.7

No

87 (79)

49.4

55.9

Smoking habits

Smoker

12 (11)

46.8

31.8

0.04

0.704

-

-

Non-smoker

98 (89)

53.4

58.1

Dyed/permed hair

-

-

Yes

54 (49)

47.5

45.6

0.09

0.344

No

56 (51)

57.6

64.2

Exercise habits

0.18

0.184

-

-

Never

14 (13)

75.9

101.4

Sometimes

26 (24)

42.0

43.6

Regularly

70 (63)

52.0

46.3

Ointments with cortisone

0.08

0.408

-

-

Yes

9 (8)

37.1

24.3

No

101 (92)

50.4

47.4

Longstanding illness

0.05

0.633^#)

-

-

Yes

22 (20)

47.5

45.6

No

88 (80)

53.9

58.2

Sleep disturbances

0.05

0.579^#)

-

-

Yes

73 (66)

54.8

58.4

No

37 (34)

48.5

50.8

Stomach pain

0.10

0.290^#)

-

-

Yes

35 (32)

60.9

48.6

No

75 (68)

48.8

58.8