Associations between jet lag and cortisol diurnal rhythms after domestic travel

Health Psychol. 2010 Mar;29(2):117-23. doi: 10.1037/a0017865.

Abstract

Objective: Millions of adults in the United States travel abruptly across time zones each year. Nevertheless, the impact of traveling over relatively short distances (across 3 or fewer time zones) on diurnal patterning of typical physiological response patterns has yet to be studied in a large, epidemiological sample.

Design: The current research focuses on 764 middle-aged men comparing variations in diurnal cortisol regulation based on number of time zones traveled eastward or westward the day before.

Main outcome measure: Participants provided samples of salivary cortisol at waking, 30-min postwaking, 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and bedtime.

Results: Eastward travel was associated with a steeper salivary cortisol awakening response (p < .01) and lower peak (PEAK) levels of salivary cortisol the next morning (p < .05). Westward travel was associated with lower peak levels of cortisol the next morning (p < .05). Effect sizes for these differences ranged from Cohen's d = .29 to .47. Differences were not present for 2 days in their home environment.

Conclusions: The results provide evidence that traveling across time zones is associated with diurnal cortisol regulation and should be studied further to understand the subsequent impacts on health and well-being in large national samples.

Publication types

  • Twin Study

MeSH terms

  • Affect / physiology
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Diseases in Twins / blood*
  • Diseases in Twins / psychology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood*
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / blood*
  • Jet Lag Syndrome / psychology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Travel / psychology*
  • United States
  • Veterans / psychology
  • Wakefulness / physiology

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone