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Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Extraction and Analysis of Cortisol from Human and Monkey Hair
Published on: January 24, 2014
Seasonal variation in hair cortisol concentration: A systematic review
Anja C Feneberg1, Susanne Fischer2, Nadine Skoluda3
1Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents, Department of Psychology, Fliednerstr. 21, 48149 Münster, University of Münster, Germany; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Liebiggasse 5, 1010, Vienna, University of Vienna, Austria; University Research Platform "The Stress of Life (SOLE)-Processes and Mechanisms Underlying Everyday Life Stress", University of Vienna, Austria.
Abstract:
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a crucial biomarker in psychoneuroendocrinological research, offering unique insights into long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Season has repeatedly shown associations with HCC. However, as of yet, no systematic attempt at quantifying season's influence on HCC has been undertaken. We conducted a systematic search of the bibliographic databases PubMed and PsycINFO. Twenty-nine between- and within-person studies fulfilled all eligibility criteria (N = 10,520 participants in total). Overall, 22 studies (76%) reported significant differences in HCC across seasons. Most between-personstudies reported lower HCC in winter/spring than in summer/autumn (10/15). This pattern was supported by 2/14 within-person studies, whereas others reported lower HCC in summer than in autumn (6/14). The remaining studies reported other patterns or no seasonal variations in HCC. In conclusion, there is accumulating evidence for seasonal variations in HCC, highlighting the need to consider the seasons in future research on HCC and health. Mechanisms related to meteorological, ecological, sociocultural, and lifestyle factors may underlie seasonal rhythmicity in cortisol secretion and accumulation in hair.
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