A new paper published by the ARCH Lab, titled “Association Between Hair Cortisol and Psychopathology in Children With a Chronic Physical Illness“, has found that stress levels measured via cortisol from children’s hair may help predict their mental health outcomes—especially for those living with chronic physical illnesses.
Data come from the ongoing MY LIFE Study. Researchers followed 244 children aged 2 to 16 over four years, collecting small hair samples to measure cortisol, a hormone released in response to stress. Unlike saliva or blood tests, hair cortisol reflects long-term stress levels. The children also completed regular mental health assessments.
The study identified three patterns of cortisol concentration over time: consistently high (hypersecretion), consistently low (hyposecretion), and high that decreased over time (hyper-to-hypo). Most children (68%) had consistently high cortisol, suggesting ongoing stress. However, those whose cortisol levels dropped over time had fewer symptoms of anxiety, depression, and behavior problems.
The authors concluded that children who adapt to stress over time may be more resilient, but those with persistently high stress levels could be at greater risk for mental health issues.
The findings suggest that hair cortisol could be a useful tool for identifying children who need early mental health support. The researchers also noted that older children were less likely to show decreasing cortisol levels, highlighting adolescence as a particularly vulnerable period.
As more children are diagnosed with chronic illnesses, this research points to the importance of monitoring stress and offering timely interventions to support both physical and mental health.
