Context: Characterization of stress exposure requires understanding seasonal variability in stress biomarkers.
Objective: To compare acute and chronic stress biomarkers between two seasons in a cohort of rural, Hispanic mothers.
Methods: Stress questionnaires and cortisol measurements (hair, blood and saliva) were collected in the summer and fall.
Results: Cortisol biomarkers were significantly different and stress questionnaires were significantly correlated between seasons.
Discussion: The variability in cortisol and relative stability of questionnaires between seasons may indicate that cortisol responds to subtle stressors not addressed in questionnaires.
Conclusions: There are significant differences in stress biomarkers in our cohort between seasons.
Keywords: Biomonitoring; child exposure/health; exposure modeling.