• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.83-97
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of sand play therapy on the parenting stress and saliva cortisol levels of parents undergoing child counseling programs. The study was conducted with 13 parents who were undergoing child counseling programs. The sessions were held every week for 45 minutes from July, 2011 to September, 2011. To evaluate the effects of sand play therapy, pre test and post test were conducted and the results were then analyzed. The therapy sessions consist of parents making sand boxes, and this was done without consideration of any particular theme. The instrument used was Abidin (1990)'s Parenting Stress Instrument (PSI). Saliva cortisol levels were obtained at the pre-post stage of the sand play therapy. The data were analyzed by means of frequency and the Wilcoxon Rank Sum Test was conducted by the SPSS. The major findings were as follows; There were significant differences in terms of the decreases in the areas of perception of all the parenting stresses examined, including daily life stress, child temperament stress, child relationship stress, and learning-expectation stress, as well as in saliva cortisol levels. Finally, this study suggests that parenting stress and saliva cortisol levels have a positive relationship, and the effects of sand play therapy were significant with decreases in parenting stress and saliva cortisol levels. There is a clear need for parents undergoing child counseling programs to engage in sand play therapy to decrease parenting stress and saliva cortisol levels.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.223-232
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• 2014

Most of salivary cortisol are an unbound free form reflecting physiological function later. Thus, it is used frequently to evaluate the HPA-Axis and physiological function. Although the needs of salivary cortisol measurement in Korean Medicine is higher and higher, there are not many studies, because the reliability of salivary cortisol measurement is not high. To make the reliability high and encourage to use it in Korean Medicine, the goal of this study is to suggest the standard method of saliva collecting for cortisol measurement through the review of previous studies using salivary cortisol and to encourage to use it in clinical fields in Korean Medicine. The results are as followed; First, salivary cortisol has many benefits, i. e. easy collecting, non-invasive collecting, and reflecting the physiological function. Second, the collecting time and method are kept sternly, because the methods of saliva collecting vary depending on the goal of study. Third, the specific tools for saliva collecting are recommended to prevent contamination. In conclusion, if the standard methods of saliva collecting is kept to measure salivary cortisol, it would be very useful in many fields of Korean Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.731-741
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• 1996

ELISA kit for cortisol was developed and then evaluated. Polyclonal antihydrocortisone-3-(o-carboxymethyl)oxime BSA rabbit serum was used to coat the 96-well microplates. The minimum detection limit of the kit was 250pg of cortisol per milliliter. The within-run variation and the day to day variation of the ELISA system were 2.0 and 5.9 at maximum, respectively. The kit was used to determine whether salivary cortisol concentration could replace blood cortisol concentration in dexamathasone suppression test of dogs. Changes of cortisol concentration were measured in serum or saliva after intravenous administration of 0.01mg of dexamethasone per kilogram of body weight. Blood alone, saliva alone or both were collected at 0, 30, 60, 120, 240, and 360 minutes after injection of dexamethasone. The change in blood cortisol concentration was found to be suitable in dexamathasone suppression test of dogs, but the change in salivary cortisol concentration was not. The kit was also used to determine whether salivary cortisol concentration could be a stress index as well as blood cortisol concentration in dogs. Two types of trial were performed to estimate the stress either by blood or salivary cortisol concentration. The first trial was stress experiment by intravenous injection of 0.2IU of PZI-insulin per kilogram body weight. Either blood alone or saliva alone was collected at 0, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after insulin administration. Both blood and salivary cortisol concentration were found to be suitable index in estimating stress from hypoglycemia by injection of insulin. The second trial was stress experiment by electrical irritation. The dogs were irritated with anti-bark device for 10 seconds. Blood was collected before and at 2 and 5 minutes after electrical irritation. Saliva was collected before and at 3 and 6 minutes after electrical irritation. The blood cortisol concentration, but not the salivary cortisol concentration was found to be suitable index in estimating stress from electrical irritation. Cushing syndrome in a dog was also successfully diagnosed with this kit.

• Journal of Naturopathy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2021

Purposes: This study investigated how saliva cortisol, blood vessel health type, and blood vessel health index changed after forest bathing with subjects in the Samdasu Forest. Methods: After the forest bathing, we measured cortisol change in saliva and heart rate variability with subjects. Results: In the experimental group who took forest bathing for two hours in the Samdasu Forest, the stress cortisol content secreted in saliva decreased significantly compared to the control group (p<.05). Besides, the vascular age type significantly increased (p<.03), and the vascular age index significantly decreased (p<.032).There were no significant results in the control group. Conclusions: It is evaluated that forest bathing in Samdasu Forest in Jeju Island had the effect of reducing saliva cortisol and increasing blood vessel age.

• Journal of People, Plants, and Environment
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.445-454
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• 2019

This study was conducted to find out physical changes in the blood pressure and saliva cortisol of patients with high blood pressure and diabetes after participating in agro-healing activities. The saliva cortisol and blood pressure of 14 males and females aged 49.79±10.48 on average were measured after participating in agro-healing activities. The saliva collection system was used, and their satisfaction level for the program was also surveyed. Changes in the values before and after participating in the agro-healing activities were compared and analyzed. The cortisol concentration, a stress hormone, was reduced from 6.76nmol/L before the program to 4.86nmol/L after the program, down by 1.9nmol/L, which was a statistically significant difference (z=-3.170, p<.01). In addition, the cortisol concentration was gradually reduced through the entire program from Session 1 to Session 7. Changes in the blood pressure of subjects before and after participating in agro-healing activities were examined, and the total systolic and diastolic blood pressure continuously decreased after participating in agro-healing activities through the entire program from Session 1 to Session 7. Their systolic blood pressure was reduced statistically significantly (z=-1.947, p<.05). Also, participants' satisfaction was analyzed and it was found that more than 95% of participants answered 'satisfied' and 'very satisfied' with agro-healing activities. Therefore, these results indicate that agro-healing activities performed in the healing-farm had a positive impact on the cortisol concentration and blood pressure of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. In addition, their high satisfaction for this program seemed to improve the psychological and physiological conditions of subjects.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.18-27
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• 2013

This study is being conducted in order to confirm the effects of inhaling method for aromatherapy on cortisol which is a stress hormone by the saliva test method. An attempt is being made to dertermine if there are any differences between the effect of lavender and rosemary when concidering their effects on the cortisolsl. The test shows a statistically significant decrease in the cortisol levesl(Table 4), and as far as the comparison of the effects between lavender(N=10) and rosemary(N=10) is concerned, the lavender group show a p-value of .005 which means that there are no statistical significances; while the rosemary group show p-values of .081 meaning that there is a decrease in cortisol levels, which is statistically significant(Table 5). It has been proven that the saliva test method is a practical and scientific method when confirming the effects of aromatherapy and also a convenient method for both of the test coordinator and the subjects. Results of all 20 subjects showed similar results obtained by means of conventional blood tests. However, the rosemary group shows statistically significant decrease in cortisol level compared to the lavender group, thus proving that the test method for studying the effect of aromatherapy on stress is valid. Further studies should be conducted in order to investigate the differences in the effects of the cortisol level at different concentrations of the aroma.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.897-906
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• 2016

Objectives: Periodontitis is multifactorial disease mainly caused by microbial community. Recently, some research has been conducted to find other possible risk factors including stress hormones related to periodontitis. Psychological stress can affect the periodontal health by a variety of biological mechanisms. This study compared the stress hormone levels in healthy subjects and patients with periodontal disease using saliva in order to investigate the association between periodontitis and stress. Methods: The human saliva was collected from 38 periodontally healthy individuals and 34 patients with chronic periodontitis under Institutional Review Board. Their age was 20-60 years ($40.3{\pm}10.45$). From these samples, determination of salivary levels of cortisol and Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) performed by enzyme immunoassay kit (Salimetrics Europe, Suffolk, UK). The independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test for trend was applied using IBM SPSS statistics version 12.0 Program to analyze statistically significant differences. Results: Salivary cortisol levels of periodontitis patients were higher than those levels of healthy subjects (P < 0.001), while salivary DHEA levels of periodontitis patients were not significantly different (P = 0.431). Salivary cortisol/DHEA ratio of periodontitis patients was higher than those levels of healthy subjects (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the high levels of cortisol concentrations and cortisol/DHEA ratio in saliva of periodontitis patients than those of healthy subjects. Since cortisol levels and cortisol/DHEA ratio can be significant factors related to the severity of periodontal disease, our study would be helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.734-741
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• 2019

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between plasma and salivary cortisol concentrations in beef cattle that were subjected to handling prior to sampling. Methods: Twenty-one Nguni cows of three age categories; 5 to 7 yr (n = 7), 8 to 10 yr (n = 6), and 11 to 13 yr (n = 8) were handled for five consecutive weeks. In the pen, a human avoidance test was performed and cattle responses to restraint in the chute and crush were observed. In addition, rectal temperature readings were taken and, faecal samples were collected and analysed for glucocorticoid metabolites. Through the handling and restraint process, excretory and vocalisation behaviour, as a sign of stress were observed and recorded. Thereafter, six cows were randomly selected and subjected to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. Blood and saliva samples were extracted to determine cortisol concentrations. Results: Repeated handling affected (p<0.05) faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, rectal temperatures, avoidance distance, crush scores as well as urination and defaecation behaviour. Acclimation to handling was variable based on each respective parameter. Saliva cortisol concentrations increased and decreased significantly (p<0.001). A peak value of $136.78{\pm}15.869nmol/L$ was observed 30min after administration of ACTH, from a baseline value of $8.75{\pm}15.869nmol/L$. Plasma cortisol concentrations did not differ (p>0.05) across the time of sampling. A low and insignificant correlation (r = 0.0131, p>0.05) between plasma and saliva cortisol was therefore observed. Conclusion: We conclude that if beef cows are subjected to handling prior to sampling, a weak relationship exists between plasma and salivary cortisol levels.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.201-215
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• 2007

This study examined cortisol patterning in 160 children(79 boys, 81 girls; aged 4-5) attending twelve childcare centers in Seoul and Kyunggi Province. Saliva samples for the assay of cortisol were collected twice a day at 10 : 30 am and 3 : 30 pm. Saliva samples were collected again within a week after the first collection. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The cortisol level of the afternoon showed neither increase nor decrease compared to morning. Regression analysis indicated that time children spent at childcare centers accounted for increased afternoon cortisol levels; that is, higher levels of afternoon cortisol were associated with more hours per day at childcare centers.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.770-780
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• 2001

This quasi-experimental study was to explore the effects of back massage with Lavender essence oil on the stress response of the ICU nurses. Method: Twenty nurses were selected as an experimental group and twenty nurses were in the control group. Lavender essence oil mixed with Jojova carrier oil was used to massage the neck, shoulder, back, and low back. Massage was done three times a week for 20 minutes for 2 weeks by the massage therapist. The stress response was measured with a subjective stress score, Cortisol and IgA level in saliva. The cortisol level in saliva was analyzed by an radioimmunoassay before and after back massage. The level of IgA in saliva was analyzed by an immunoturbidimeter assay and subjective stress scores was measured by Visual Analogue Scale. The data was analyzed using SPSS 8.0 and the hypotheses were tested by ANCOVA and the Pearson coefficient correlation. Result: 1) Score of subjective stress decreased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 2) Level of Cortisol in saliva did not change significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 3) Level of IgA in saliva increased significantly after the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil. 4) After the use of back massage with Lavender essence oil, there was significant negative correlation between subjective stress and level of IgA in saliva. Conclusion: Back massage with Lavender essence oil is an effective intervention to reduce the stress response in the ICU nurses.