Dam‐Induced Displacement and Disruption Are Associated With Salivary Cortisol Concentration and Patterns of Diurnal Variation
Cassie C. Lee, Aaron A. Miller, Thomas W. McDade, Patrick M. OwuorABSTRACT
Objectives
This study assesses the stress‐related impacts of the construction of the Thwake Multipurpose Dam in Makueni, Kenya by examining salivary cortisol concentrations and patterns of diurnal variation.
Methods
One set of evening, waking, and 30‐min post‐waking saliva samples was collected across 221 women who were displaced by the dam or who lived upstream or downstream of the dam development site. Salivary cortisol concentration was analyzed using a commercially available assay kit. Multivariable linear regression was used to assess the relationship between displacement status and waking cortisol concentration, evening cortisol concentration, cortisol awakening response, and diurnal difference.
Results
Log‐transformed evening cortisol concentration (displaced: β = 0.365, p = 0.018; downstream: β = 0.675, p = 0.007) and diurnal difference (displaced: β = 0.034, p = 0.049) were significantly associated with displacement status.
Conclusions
Both displaced and downstream communities demonstrate stress‐related hormonal differences associated with dam‐induced disruption. Future policy and research addressing the health impacts of hydroelectric dam development should include downstream communities in addition to those directly displaced by development.