Summary: A new study reveals that anxiety felt on Mondays uniquely elevates stress hormones, even in retirees, with potential consequences for heart health. Researchers found older adults who reported Monday anxiety had 23% higher long-term cortisol levels than peers anxious on other days.
This persistent “Monday effect” suggests the cultural transition to a new week disrupts stress regulation, independent of work demands. The findings highlight how ingrained weekly rhythms may amplify cardiovascular risk in aging populations.
Key facts:
- Lasting Stress: Monday anxiety was linked to elevated cortisol levels persisting for two months.
- Not Just Work: Retirees also showed the effect, showing Mondays impact stress beyond the workplace.
- Heart Risk Link: The biological stress response may help explain why Mondays see a spike in heart attacks.
Source: Hong Kong University
A research study led by Professor Tarani Chandola from the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has revealed that Mondays uniquely drive long-term biological stress, regardless of working status, with implications for heart health.
The research has identified a striking biological phenomenon: older adults who feel anxious on Mondays exhibit significantly higher long-term stress hormone levels, up to two months later.
This “Anxious Monday” effect, observed in both working and retirees, points to a deep-rooted link between the start of the week and dysregulation of the body’s stress response system, a known driver of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the study analysed data from over 3,500 older adults participating in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA).
Key Findings
- 23% Higher Cortisol Levels: Older adults reporting Monday anxiety had 23% elevated cortisol levels in hair samples (reflecting cumulative exposure over two months) compared to peers anxious on other days.
- Non-Workers Not Spared: The effect persisted among retirees, challenging assumptions that workplace stress alone explains Monday’s toll.
- CVD Connection: Mondays are linked to a 19% spike in heart attacks—this study identifies HPA-axis dysregulation as a potential biological bridge.
- Not just higher levels of Monday anxiety: Only 25% of the Monday effect was due to greater feelings of anxiety on Mondays. The rest was because of the greater effect of feeling anxious on Mondays compared to other days.
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates stress hormones like cortisol, which, when chronically elevated, contribute to hypertension, insulin resistance, and immune dysfunction.
While prior research noted higher cortisol on weekdays versus weekends, this is the first study to pinpoint Mondays as uniquely disruptive. The findings suggest societal rhythms—not just job demands—embed themselves in human physiology, with lasting health risks.
“Mondays act as a cultural ‘stress amplifier,’” said Professor Chandola. “For some older adults, the week’s transition triggers a biological cascade that lingers for months. This isn’t about work—it’s about how deeply ingrained Mondays are in our stress physiology, even after careers end.
The study underscores how the “Monday blues” can become biologically embedded, with chronic stress hormone dysregulation posing long-term cardiovascular risks. Addressing Monday-specific stress could unlock new strategies to combat heart disease in aging populations.
About this psychology research news
Author: Jaymee Ng
Source: Hong Kong University
Contact: Jaymee Ng – Hong Kong University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“Are anxious Mondays associated with HPA-axis dysregulation? A longitudinal study of older adults in England” by Tarani Chandola et al. Journal of Affective Disorders
Abstract
Are anxious Mondays associated with HPA-axis dysregulation? A longitudinal study of older adults in England
Objective
To investigate whether the association between perceived anxiety and HPA-axis dysregulation is greater on Mondays than on other days of the week.
Design
Observational study with longitudinal data.
Setting
England.
Participants
3511 adults aged 50 years and older living in England from 2012 to 2013 participating at wave 6 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.
Main outcome measures
Levels of hair cortisol and total glucocorticoid production.
Results
This study found strong evidence for an association between reporting anxiety on Mondays and HPA-axis dysregulation. At the 90th quantile of the cortisol distribution, older adults who felt anxious on Mondays had 23 % higher cortisol levels in the hair samples collected up to 2 months later than did their peers who reported anxiety on other days. There were no significant differences in cortisol levels or total glucocorticoid production by feelings of anxiety on other days of the week.
The anxious Monday association with HPA-axis dysregulation measured subsequently was evident among both working and nonworking older adults, with no reduction in the association among those not at work. Around three-quarters of the differences in HPA-axis dysregulation between Mondays and other days was due to the differential effects of the characteristics of older adults who reported feeling anxious on Mondays.
Conclusions
HPA-axis dysregulation is pronounced among older adults who report anxiety on Mondays. This association was observed regardless of employment status, suggesting that both working and nonworking older adults are at risk of HPA-axis dysregulation associated with the start of the week.
