TAP reading note: Diurnal cortisol slopes and mental and physical health outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Flatter diurnal cortisol slopes were modestly associated with poorer health: pooled r=.147 (95% CI .112–.183), and r=.138 (.005–.267) in prospective studies. These results support research on diurnal rhythms and health, not diagnosis of an individual's stress from a single measurement.
Updated 2026-10-29 · Archived
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What the study found
Flatter diurnal cortisol slopes were modestly associated with poorer health: pooled r=.147 (95% CI .112–.183), and r=.138 (.005–.267) in prospective studies. These results support research on diurnal rhythms and health, not diagnosis of an individual's stress from a single measurement.
Scope & limitations
80 studies with 179 associations spanning mental and physical health outcomes.
Heterogeneity was high (I²=83.23%); effect conversion, adjustment and publication-bias handling varied. The bias-adjusted mortality HR was 1.69 (.55–5.2), crossing 1 although the text calls it significant. This unresolved inconsistency prevents a claim of a robust significant mortality association.
Population & sample
80 studies with 179 associations spanning mental and physical health outcomes.
Exposure or intervention
Flatter versus steeper diurnal slopes; multiple outcomes within studies were averaged before synthesis.
Outcomes
Mental and physical health, prospective health outcomes and mortality, kept distinct from individual risk scoring.
Time frame
Search through 31 January 2015; cross-sectional and prospective studies with varying follow-up.
Research funding
Support included Northwestern Institute for Policy Research faculty and graduate funding; see the acknowledgements.
Research conflicts of interest
The authors declare no conflicts and report that funders were not involved in analysis or interpretation.
Reading scope
Full-text selection/synthesis methods, overall, prospective and mortality results, and limitations. Original mortality estimates and synthesis code remain to be checked.
References
Publication record
TAP-RDN-0051 · v1.0 · English
Author: TAP Editorial Team ·
The Allostasis Project is founded and supported by Resilio.
Record for v1.0 · Updated
Editorial responsibility: TAP Editorial Team
Scientific review
Not yet scientifically reviewed
Editorial note
Under the editorial responsibility of the TAP Editorial Team, this publication used AI assistance for content organization and editing. Scientific review is recorded separately on this page.
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Record integrity & available editions
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Captured: 2026-10-29T10:31:13.625Z
- v1.0 · 2026-10-29