by Alan Jacques
RESEARCHERS at the University of Limerick are now looking for people to take part in a new study that will use people’s spit to measure levels of stress associated with employment and unemployment.
According to Dr Rachel Sumner, a postdoctoral researcher at UL, both employed and unemployed people experience stress and poor health and the aim of the study is to discover if there are any common factors by collecting and examining saliva samples.
“We know that stress damages the body in terms of our mental and physical health, and studies have looked in to what causes this damage for a long time now. Our study aim is to look at how stress gets inside the body to cause this damage,” Dr Sumner explained.
The research team led by Dr Sumner and Dr Stephen Gallagher of UL’s Centre for Social Issues Research, will look at how stress gets in to the body through examining stress hormones in saliva (Cortisol and DHEA).
These hormones help to regulate our immune and cardiovascular systems, as well as how we feel during times of stress. By looking at these physiological measures, researchers will have a direct way of seeing how experiences of this stress affects our health.
“This research is important for several reasons; it will allow us to see the way stress gets inside the body; see who copes better with stress, employed or unemployed, or in different ways, and provide information as to what type of service or intervention is needed to help people deal with stress,” Dr Sumner told the Limerick Post.
The UL research team are now seeking 90 employed people, 45 on permanent contract and 45 on non-permanent contract, for their study, which will be funded by the Irish Research Council. They also want to hear from 90 unemployed people, 45 short-term and 45 long-term unemployed, to complete a survey about lifestyle, stress and mood.
“It will take about 20 minutes. Participants will have to provide a couple of saliva samples so that we can measure their stress hormones. We’re offering participants that complete all parts of the study a €10 All-for-one voucher as a small thank you for taking part as well,” Dr Sumner revealed.
More details are available from www.sashlab.com.
