Body Movements as Biomarkers: Machine Learning-based Prediction of HPA Axis Reactivity to Stress

Abel L, Richer R, Burkhardt F, Kurz M, Ringgold V, Gmelch LM, Eskofier B, Rohleder N (2025)

Publication Status: Submitted

Publication Type: Unpublished / Preprint

Future Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/kwdmf_v1

Abstract

Body movements and posture provide valuable insights into stress responses, yet their relationship with endocrine biomarkers of the stress response remains underexplored. This study investigates whether movement patterns during the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and the friendly-TSST (f-TSST) can predict cortisol reactivity. Using motion capturing, movement data from 41 participants were analyzed alongside salivary cortisol responses. Machine learning models achieved a classification accuracy of 65.2 % for distinguishing cortisol responders from non-responders and a regression mean absolute error of 2.94 nmol/l for predicting cortisol increase. Findings suggest that movement dynamics can serve as proxies of endocrine stress responses, contributing to objective, non-invasive stress assessment methods.

Authors with CRIS profile

Luca Abel Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Robert Richer Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Felicitas Burkhardt Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie Miriam Kurz Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie Veronika Ringgold Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie Lena Marie Gmelch Lehrstuhl für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie (KliPs) Björn Eskofier Machine Learning and Data Analytics Lab Nicolas Rohleder Lehrstuhl für Gesundheitspsychologie

Additional Organisation(s)

Sonderforschungsbereich 1483/1 - Empathokinästhetische Sensorik - Sensortechniken und Datenanalyseverfahren zur empathokinästhetischen Modellbildung und Zustandsbestimmung (SFB EmpkinS)

Related research project(s)

Berührungslose Messung von Stress, seiner Determinanten und Konsequenzen (SFB 1483 EmpkinS D03) Empatho-Kinaesthetic Sensor Technology (SFB 1483 EmpkinS) July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025

How to cite

APA:

Abel, L., Richer, R., Burkhardt, F., Kurz, M., Ringgold, V., Gmelch, L.M.,... Rohleder, N. (2025). Body Movements as Biomarkers: Machine Learning-based Prediction of HPA Axis Reactivity to Stress. (Unpublished, Submitted).

MLA:

Abel, Luca, et al. Body Movements as Biomarkers: Machine Learning-based Prediction of HPA Axis Reactivity to Stress. Unpublished, Submitted. 2025.

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