Perceived stress precedes declines in Well-being: A prospective study of stress, well-being, hair cortisol, and low-grade inflammation in hospital employees

This is the first prospective repeated-measure study to examine the temporal associations between stress, well-being, hair cortisol concentrations, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Our analyses suggest that perceived stress in this sample precedes changes in well-being, highlighting the importance of prevention and early intervention.