INFLUENCE OF SMOKING AND DRINKING HABITS ON SALIVARY CORTISOL-LEVELS

The present study assessed the association of smoking and drinking hab its on salivary cortisol levels in a sample of 106 young teenagers. Th e gender, psychopathological disorders (ICD-10 criteria), and psycholo gical stress variables were considered. Results showed that cortisol l evels were significantly higher for moderate to heavy smokers (10 or m ore cigarettes per day) than for light and non-smokers. This effect wa s more remarkable in females than in males. Psychopathology was a fact or influencing cortisol levels mainly in males. While high stress and elevated daily consumption of cigarettes were significantly associated with salivary cortisol levels, drinking habits did not influence thes e concentrations. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.