TY - JOUR
T1 - Determinants of Chronic Biological Stress, Measured as Hair Cortisol Concentration, in a General Population of Adolescents
T2 - From Individual and Household Characteristics to Neighborhood Urbanicity
AU - Verheyen, Veerle J.
AU - Remy, Sylvie
AU - Govarts, Eva
AU - Colles, Ann
AU - Koppen, Gudrun
AU - Martin, Laura Rodriguez
AU - Nielsen, Flemming
AU - Bruckers, Liesbeth
AU - Bijnens, Esmée M.
AU - Vos, Stijn
AU - Morrens, Bert
AU - Coertjens, Dries
AU - Loots, Ilse
AU - De Decker, Annelies
AU - Franken, Carmen
AU - Den Hond, Elly
AU - Nelen, Vera
AU - De Henauw, Stefaan
AU - Covaci, Adrian
AU - Van Larebeke, Nicolas
AU - Teughels, Caroline
AU - Nawrot, Tim S.
AU - Schoeters, Greet
N1 - Funding Information:
This paper is based on research conducted within the framework of the Flemish Center of Expertise on Environment and Health (FLEHS 2016-2020), funded by the Government of Flanders, Department of Environment & Spatial Development. VV was supported by a PhD fellowship at the University of Antwerp and VITO, funded by the Flemish Center of Expertise on Environment and Health.
Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2021 Verheyen, Remy, Govarts, Colles, Koppen, Martin, Nielsen, Bruckers, Bijnens, Vos, Morrens, Coertjens, Loots, De Decker, Franken, Den Hond, Nelen, De Henauw, Covaci, Van Larebeke, Teughels, Nawrot and Schoeters.
PY - 2021/11/23
Y1 - 2021/11/23
N2 - Chronic biological stress may adversely affect adolescents' physical and mental health, but insight in the personal and environmental factors that determine chronic stress is limited. We measured 3-month cumulative hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in 419 adolescents, participating in the Flemish Environment and Health Study. Adolescents' health and lifestyle characteristics, household and neighborhood socio-economic status as well as neighborhood urbanicity were assessed as potential determinants of HCC, using multiple linear regression models. We additionally explored heterogeneity of our results by sex. HCC were significantly higher in boys from densely populated neighborhoods, the association was not significant in girls. Accordingly, boys living outside cities had significantly lower HCC than boys, living in cities. HCC was significantly lower in adolescents with an optimal vitality, a measure of a positive mental health status. In adolescent girls, menarcheal status (pre-/postmenarche) was a significant determinant of HCC. Our findings are the first to suggest that residential urbanicity may have an impact on chronic biological stress in a general population of adolescent boys.
AB - Chronic biological stress may adversely affect adolescents' physical and mental health, but insight in the personal and environmental factors that determine chronic stress is limited. We measured 3-month cumulative hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in 419 adolescents, participating in the Flemish Environment and Health Study. Adolescents' health and lifestyle characteristics, household and neighborhood socio-economic status as well as neighborhood urbanicity were assessed as potential determinants of HCC, using multiple linear regression models. We additionally explored heterogeneity of our results by sex. HCC were significantly higher in boys from densely populated neighborhoods, the association was not significant in girls. Accordingly, boys living outside cities had significantly lower HCC than boys, living in cities. HCC was significantly lower in adolescents with an optimal vitality, a measure of a positive mental health status. In adolescent girls, menarcheal status (pre-/postmenarche) was a significant determinant of HCC. Our findings are the first to suggest that residential urbanicity may have an impact on chronic biological stress in a general population of adolescent boys.
KW - adolescents
KW - chronic biological stress
KW - determinants
KW - Flemish environment and health study (FLEHS)
KW - hair cortisol concentration
KW - neighborhood urbanicity
U2 - 10.3389/fpubh.2021.669022
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2021.669022
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34888272
AN - SCOPUS:85120852309
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Public Health
JF - Frontiers in Public Health
SN - 2296-2565
M1 - 669022
ER -