Cortisol Levels and Their Association with Workplace Stress in IT Workers

Background: Workplace stress is increasingly recognized as a physiological and psychological burden in cognitively demanding occupations such as information technology. Chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and can lead to cortisol dysregulation, measurable through serum biomarkers. Objectives: To evaluate the association between workplace stress and diurnal serum cortisol levels among IT professionals in Chennai, India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 300 full-time IT professionals aged 25 to 45 years. Participants completed the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Management Standards Indicator Tool to assess occupational stress across seven domains. Serum cortisol was measured via chemiluminescent immunoassay at two-time points morning (8–9 AM) and evening (6–7 PM) to evaluate diurnal variation. Associations were analyzed using correlation and multivariate regression, adjusting for age, gender, BMI, and smoking. Results: Mean cortisol levels were higher in the morning (418.3 ± 96.4 nmol/L) than evening (211.7 ± 85.2 nmol/L). A flattened diurnal rhythm, defined as a morning–evening cortisol difference of less than 150 nmol/L, was observed in 22% of participants. Lower scores in job control, role clarity, and workplace relationships were significantly associated with cortisol dysregulation. Female gender and smoking were additional risk factors. Conclusions: Serum cortisol alterations reflect psychosocial stress exposure. Diurnal cortisol assessment may serve as a useful biomarker of work-related stress, supporting the need for organizational interventions.