Sex Differences in Salivary and Serum Cortisol Values Among Nurses and Correlation with Work Stress

Aim To see the difference between salivary cortisol values, correlation with the work stress, and the difference between salivary and cortisol values related to sex. Methods The salivary and serum cortisol values were analyzed in two groups of nurses, six nurses in the Emergency Department and six nurses in the Pathology Department at our hospital, three females and three males for each group. The samples were taken before beginning the work and after finishing the work. Results Mean serum and salivary cortisol values in the morning (0800 AM) and at the end of the work (0400 PM), were higher in Emergency Department compare to the mean salivary and serum values of cortisol in the Pathology Department. The salivary and serum cortisol values were higher in males compare to females, but are not statistically significant. Conclusions Since the work stress is higher in the Emergency Department, even the results of the salivary cortisol values were higher in the nurses of the Emergency Department compared to the nurses of Pathology Department and there existed a correlation between salivary and serum values, but we needed a bigger group of study to have more trustful conclusions.