Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Functioning in Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Children |
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Authors: | Nestor L. Lopez-Duran Sheryl L. Olson Nastassia J. Hajal Barbara T. Felt Delia M. Vazquez |
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Affiliation: | (1) Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O’Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;(2) University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan;(3) Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania |
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Abstract: | The purpose of this study was to examine the association between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis) reactivity and proactive and reactive aggression in pre-pubertal children. After a 30-min controlled base line period, 73 7-year-old children (40 males and 33 females) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental tasks designed to elicit fear (N = 33) or frustration (N = 32), or a validity check condition (N = 8). This was followed by a 60-min controlled regulation phase. A total of 17 saliva samples for cortisol analysis were collected including 12 post-stress samples at 5-min intervals. Reactive and proactive aggression levels were assessed via the teacher-completed Aggression Behavior Teacher Checklist (Dodge and Coie, J Pers Soc Psychol, 53(6), 1146–1158, 1987). Reactive aggression significantly predicted total and peak post-stress cortisol regardless of stress modality. Proactive aggression was not a predictor of any cortisol index. Examination of pure reactive, proactive, combined, or non-aggressive children indicated that reactive aggressive children had higher cortisol reactivity than proactive and non-aggressive children. Our data suggest that while an overactive HPA-axis response to stress is associated with reactive aggression, stress induced HPA-axis variability does not seem to be related to proactive aggression. |
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Keywords: | Cortisol HPA Aggression Reactive aggression Proactive aggression Children Stress Response Fear Frustration |
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