Does HPA‐Axis Dysregulation Account for the Effects of Income on Effortful Control and Adjustment in Preschool Children?

The effects of low income on children's adjustment might be accounted for by disruptions to hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA)‐axis activity and to the development of effortful control. Using longitudinal data and a community sample of preschool‐age children (N = 306, 36–39 months) and their mothers, recruited to over‐represent low‐income families, we explored the associations among diurnal cortisol levels and effortful control, and we tested a model in which diurnal cortisol and effortful control account for the effects of family income on child adjustment. Continuous indicators of morning cortisol level and diurnal slope, as well as dichotomous indicators reflecting low morning levels and flat diurnal slope, were examined as predictors of rank‐order changes in two dimensions of effortful control, executive control and delay ability. Low income was related to a flat diurnal cortisol slope, and above the effects of family income, a flat diurnal cortisol slope predicted lower social competence. Low morning cortisol level predicted smaller gains in executive control and higher total adjustment problems. Further, delay ability predicted lower adjustment problems above the effects of income and diurnal cortisol levels. The results suggest that HPA‐axis dysregulation and effortful control contribute additively to children's adjustment. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cortisol Response Following Exposure Treatment for PTSD in Rape Victims

This study examined changes in salivary cortisol levels pre- to posttreatment in adult female rape victims diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) randomly assigned to be treated with either prolonged exposure therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Salivary cortisol was collected at baseline, Session 3, and Session 9. A significant decrease in salivary cortisol levels was observed in individuals classified as treatment responders in both treatment conditions. Findings suggest that successful exposure-based treatments for PTSD that result in trauma-related and depressive symptom reduction may impact the action of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis as measured by changes in level of salivary cortisol from pre- to posttreatment.     

Diurnal cortisol rhythm and cognitive functioning in toddlers: The Generation R Study

Little is known about the relationship between diurnal cortisol secretion patterns and cognitive function early in life. This population-based study examined whether diurnal cortisol rhythms and cognitive functioning in toddlers are related. Within the Generation R Study, parents of 364 infants (median age: 14.2 months) collected saliva samples at five moments during one day. We assessed the diurnal cortisol rhythm by calculating the area under the curve (AUC), the cortisol awakening response (CAR), and the diurnal slope. Verbal cognitive functioning and fine motor development was determined at age 18 months. Nonverbal cognitive functioning was assessed at age 30 months. A more positive CAR was associated with a lower risk of delay in language comprehension (OR per 1-SD CAR: 0.62, 95%CI: 0.40–0.98, p = .04), a lower risk of nonoptimal fine motor development (OR per 1-SD slope: 0.74, 95%CI: 0.57–0.96, p = .03), and a lower risk of delay in nonverbal cognitive development (OR per 1-SD CAR: 0.58, 95%CI: 0.38–0.90, p = .02). Also, children with flatter slopes had a lower risk of delay in nonverbal cognitive development (OR per 1-SD slope: 0.51, 95%CI: 0.34–0.76, p = .001). Higher AUC levels were associated with a higher risk of delay in language production. These results show that variations in diurnal cortisol rhythms are already associated with variations in cognitive functioning at a young age. Infants with a diurnal cortisol pattern indicative of less stress and more cortisol reactivity, that is, lower AUC levels and a more positive CAR, show a lower risk of delay in cognitive functioning as toddlers.     

Worse than sticks and stones? Bullying is associated with altered HPA axis functioning and poorer health

Adolescents (N = 107; M = 12.23 years, SD = 1.09 months) participated in a two-part study examining peer victimization, neuroendocrine functioning, and physical health. In phase 1, adolescents completed questionnaires assessing peer victimization and health. They returned for phase 2 which consisted of two sessions. In session 1, adolescents learned to collect salivary cortisol samples; they collected four samples over 2 non-sports school days. In session 2, adolescents completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) in which they prepared and delivered a speech while cortisol was collected. Peer victimization predicted poor health outcomes and a flattened cortisol awakening response (CAR); this CAR was linked with health problems. During the TSST, victims reported more stress and exhibited altered cortisol levels. Higher cortisol immediately after the stressor and lower cortisol 30 min after the stressor were associated with more health problems. This study provides evidence that the relationship between peer victimization and poor physical health may be explained by differences in neuroendocrine functioning.     

负性情绪对分泌型免疫球蛋白A的影响及其神经内分泌机制

本研究考察负性情绪条件下个体粘膜免疫功能与其交感神经系统、下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺皮质轴反应之间的关系。采用负性情绪图片为情绪应激材料,分析观看图片对个体心率、收缩压、舒张压、唾液皮质醇浓度和分泌型免疫球蛋白A(SIgA)浓度、分泌率的影响。结果发现:(1)负性情绪图片可以诱发被试明显的负性情绪,使其收缩压、舒张压、唾液皮质醇水平明显上升,SIgA水平下降;(2)相关分析表明,舒张压和心率变化趋势与被试的SIgA水平呈负相关;(3)实验说明由负性情绪图片诱发的情绪造成了SIgA下降,且与交感神经系统的变化有关。     

Psychosocial stress enhances time-based prospective memory in healthy young men

Forgetting of intentions (such as to take one's medication) is the most frequent everyday memory failure. No study so far has looked into the possible consequences stress might exert on memory for intentions (i.e., prospective memory). Twenty healthy young male adults were exposed to a psychosocial stress test and a non-stress condition. After a delay of 15 min, a time- and an event-based prospective memory task were administered during the peak of cortisol concentrations. Results show that participants performed significantly better in the time-based memory task after stress in comparison to the non-stress condition. In contrast, there was no stress effect on event-based prospective memory. The results demonstrate that prospective memory might be enhanced when participants are exposed to stress prior to the memory task and that this effect is associated to stress-related glucocorticoid effects.     

What Confucius practiced is good for your mind: Examining the effect of a contemplative practice in Confucian tradition on executive functions

The short-term training effects on various executive functions (EFs) by a movement-based contemplative practice (MBCP) are examined. Three aspects of EFs (working memory capacity, inhibition, switching) are assessed before and after a month-long 12-h training period using Body-Mind Axial Awareness (BMAA) principles that Confucius followers have practiced for more than 2000 years. A mindfulness-based practice (Chan-meditation) and a waiting-list control group served as contrast groups. Our results showed that the BMAA group performed better on the task that measured working memory capacity than did the Chan-meditation and the waiting-list groups after training. In addition, the Chan-meditation groups outperformed the control group on attentional switching, a novel finding for this kind of practice. Our findings not only show a new effect of short-term MBCPs on EFs, but also indicate movement-based and mindfulness-based contemplative practices might benefit development of various aspects of EFs in different ways.     

Evidence for discrete profiles of children’s physiological activity across three neurobiological system and their transitions over time

The conceptualization of stress‐responsive physiological systems as operating in an integrated manner is evident in several theoretical models of cross‐system functioning. However, limited empirical research has modeled the complexity of multisystem activity. Moreover few studies have explored developmentally regulated changes in multisystem activity during early childhood when plasticity is particularly pronounced. The current study used latent profile analysis (LPA) to evaluate multisystem activity during fall and spring of children's transition to kindergarten in three biological systems: the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), sympathetic nervous system (SNS), and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. Latent transition analysis (LTA) was then used to examine the stability of profile classification across time. Across both timepoints, three distinct profiles of multisystem activity emerged. One profile was characterized by heightened HPA axis activity (HPA Axis Responders), a second profile was characterized by moderate, typically adaptive patterns across the PNS, SNS, and HPA axis (Active Copers/Mobilizers), and a third profile was characterized by heightened baseline activity, particularly in the PNS and SNS (Anticipatory Arousal/ANS Responders). LTA of fall‐to‐spring profile classifications indicated higher probabilities that children remained in the same profile over time compared to probabilities of profile changes, suggesting stability in certain patterns of cross‐system responsivity. Patterns of profile stability and change were associated with socioemotional outcomes at the end of the school year. Findings highlight the utility of LPA and LTA to detect meaningful patterns of complex multisystem physiological activity across three systems and their associations with early adjustment during an important developmental transition.     

Stigma consciousness modulates cortisol reactivity to social stress in women

The aim of the current study was to examine whether stigma consciousness shapes cortisol responses to social stress among women in the laboratory. Undergraduate women (N = 45) completed background measures and then participated in a public speaking task, with assessments of cortisol prior to the stressor as well as 20 and 40 minutes post stressor onset. Results from multilevel models revealed that women higher in stigma consciousness evidenced blunted cortisol reactivity following social stress across the study session compared to women lower in stigma consciousness. This interaction was robust to adjustment for a number of covariates, including demographic (e.g., age), physiological (e.g., menstrual cycle), and psychological (e.g., depressive symptomatology) factors. Potential explanations for observed cortisol patterns are discussed, including hyporeactivity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and elevated anticipatory stress. In conclusion, implications for health disparities research are considered.