People were less stressed after NZ's successful Covid-19 response

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-02-16 11:20

New Zealand

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Stress levels decreased over the first six months of the pandemic in New Zealand, according to researchers who analysed the hair of 44 Kiwis. The stress hormone cortisol can show up in hair as a record of a person's past stress levels. The findings contrast with similar hair cortisol studies from the UK and the US, where stress levels increased over a similar period. Researchers say their study suggests the rapid lockdowns mitigated the mental health impact on the population.