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Publications — No Comments
13
Jul 22

Neuroendocrine coordination and youth behavior problems: A review of studies assessing sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity using salivary alpha amylase and salivary cortisol

Externalizing and internalizing behavior problems can have deleterious psychosocial consequences for youth. Both sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity and reactivity may contribute to behavior problems but have largely been studied separately, with inconsistent findings. Because the SNS and HPA axis interact to carry out physiological processes (e.g., responding to stressors), considering SNS and HPA axis activity jointly may elucidate disparate findings. This review discusses studies that simultaneously assessed SNS and HPA axis (re)activity and youth behavior problems using measures of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) and salivary cortisol. Multiple patterns of SNS and HPA axis coordination were associated with problem behaviors, especially when considering individual differences and youth’s psychosocial context. Importantly, many study findings may be artifacts of widespread methodological differences. The reviewed studies lay the foundation for future research on neuroendocrine coordination as a contributing factor to youth problem behaviors and some recommendations for future research are discussed.

CITATION: Jones, E. J., Rohleder, N., & Schreier, H. M. C. (2020). Neuroendocrine coordination and youth behavior problems: A review of studies assessing sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity using salivary alpha amylase and salivary cortisol. Hormones & Behavior, 122.

Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
09
Mar 20

Prospective relations between prenatal maternal cortisol and child health

Objective The aim of the study was to investigate prospective, longitudinal associations between maternal prenatal cortisol response to an interpersonal stressor and child health for the subsequent 3 years. Methods One hundred twenty-three women expecting their first child provided salivary cortisol samples between 12 and 32 weeks of gestation (M (SD) = 22.4 (4.9) weeks) before and after a videotaped couple conflict discussion with their partner. Mothers reported on overall child health and several indicators of child illness (sick doctor visits, fevers, ear, and respiratory infections) when children were 6 months (n = 114), 1 (n = 116), and 3 (n = 105) years old. Associations between maternal prenatal cortisol reactivity and recovery and later child health at each of the three time points were analyzed using longitudinal regression models. Results Greater cortisol reactivity in response to the couple conflict discussion was associated with maternal self-report of better overall child health (p = .016, 95% CI = 0.06-1.30, Cohen’s f = 0.045) across the study period. Greater cortisol reactivity was also associated with lower incidence rate ratios for maternal reports of sick doctor visits (incidence rate ratio 95% CI = 0.25-0.83, p = .006), fevers (95% CI = 0.25-0.73, p = .002), ear infections (95% CI = 0.25-0.58, p < .001), and respiratory infections (95% CI = 0.08-1.11, p = .073). Cortisol recovery was unrelated to study outcomes (all p’s > 0.05). Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms moderated the association between cortisol reactivity and overall child health (p = .034, 95% CI = 0.07-1.87 for interaction term) but no other health outcomes (p’s > 0.05). Among women with lower depressive symptoms, cortisol reactivity was not associated with overall child health; among women with higher levels of depressive symptoms, greater cortisol reactivity was associated with better overall child health. Conclusions This study provides longitudinal evidence that greater maternal cortisol reactivity to a salient interpersonal stressor during pregnancy is associated with fewer child health problems and better maternal report of overall child health during infancy and into early childhood.

CITATION: Roettger, M. E., Schreier, H. M. C., Feinberg, M. E., & Jones, D. E. (2019). Prospective relations between prenatal maternal cortisol and child health. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(6), 557-565.

Adolescents / Inflammation / Publications — No Comments
27
Aug 16

Low-Grade Inflammation and Ambulatory Cortisol in Adolescents: Interaction Between Interviewer-Rated Versus Self-Rated Acute Stress and Chronic Stress

Objective: To determine whether the association between self-rated or interviewer-rated recent acute stress exposures and low-grade inflammation and daily cortisol production in adolescents is moderated by chronic stress ratings. Methods: Acute and chronic stress exposures were assessed in 261 adolescents aged 13 to 16 years using a semistructured life stress interview. The negative impact of acute stressors was independently rated by both adolescents (self-rated) and interviewers (interviewer-rated). Markers of inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ra, C-reactive protein) were measured from peripheral blood samples obtained via antecubital venipuncture. Participants collected 4 saliva samples at home on each of 6 consecutive days for the analysis of diurnal salivary cortisol profiles. Results: There were no main effects of acute stressors (self- and interviewer-rated) and chronic family or peer stress on adolescent inflammation markers and cortisol (p values > .10). However, the interaction between interviewer-rated acute stress and chronic family stress was significantly associated with adolescent inflammation markers (IL-6, IL-1ra). Specifically, as chronic family stress increased, the association between acute stressor impact (interviewer-rated) and inflammation markers became more positive (IL-6 (B = .054, SE = .023, p = .022); IL-1ra (B = .030, SE = .014, p = .034)). Interactions between self-rated acute stress and chronic family stress were not associated with any biological measures (p values > .10). Interactions between acute stressor impact (both self- and interviewer-rated) and chronic peer stress were also not significantly associated with any biological measures (p values > .05). Conclusions: Among adolescents, interviewer-based ratings of acute stressor impact may allow for better prediction of health-relevant inflammation markers than adolescents’ own ratings.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C. & Chen, E. (2016). Low-Grade Inflammation and Ambulatory Cortisol in Adolescents: Interaction Between Interviewer-Rated Versus Self-Rated Acute Stress and Chronic Stress. Psychosomatic Medicine.

Publications / Trauma — No Comments
22
Jan 16

Lifetime exposure to traumatic and other stressful life events and hair cortisol in a multi-racial sample of pregnant women

Background Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity is known to be altered following events such as childhood abuse. However, despite potential adverse consequences for the offspring of women who have experienced abuse, very little is known about altered HPA axis activity during pregnancy. Methods During pregnancy, 180 women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds reported on their exposure
to emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 11, and general post-traumatic stress symptoms (ie, not limited to childhood years or abuse experiences). Around delivery, they provided hair samples for the assessment of cortisol levels during pregnancy. Hair cortisol was assessed for each pregnancy trimester. The effect of childhood abuse on hair cortisol was assessed using mixed-effects analyses of covariance models allowing for within-subject correlated observations, and were first performed in the entire sample and subsequently stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Controlling for post-traumatic stress symptoms, hair cortisol levels varied by history of child abuse, F(2,166)=3.66, p=0.028. Childhood physical and/or sexual abuse was associated with greater hair cortisol levels, t(166)=2.65, p=0.009, compared with no history of abuse. Because childhood rates of abuse and hair cortisol levels varied by race/ethnicity, analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity. The associations between history of abuse and cortisol levels were only significant among black women, F(2,23)=5.37, p=0.012. Conclusions Childhood abuse, especially physical and/ or sexual abuse, is associated with differences in cortisol production during pregnancy, particularly among black women. Future research should investigate how these differences impact physical and mental health outcomes among offspring of affected women.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C., Bosquet Enlow, M., Ritz, T., Coull, B. A., Wright, R. O., & Wright, R. J. (2016). Lifetime exposure to traumatic and other stressful life events and hair cortisol in a multi-racial sample of pregnant women. Stress, 19(1), 45-52.

Publications — No Comments
15
Sep 15

Mercury and psychosocial stress exposure interact to predict maternal ambulatory cortisol during pregnancy

Background: Disrupted maternal prenatal cortisol production influences offspring development. Factors influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis include social (e.g., stressful life events) and physical/chemical (e.g., toxic metals) pollutants. Mercury (Hg) is a common contaminant of fish and exposure is widespread in the US. No prior study has examined the joint associations of stress and mercury with maternal cortisol profiles in pregnancy. Objectives: To investigate potential synergistic influences of prenatal stress and Hg exposures on diurnal cortisol in pregnant women. Methods: Analyses included 732 women (aged 27.4 ± 5.6 years) from a Mexico City pregnancy cohort. Participants collected saliva samples on two consecutive days (mean 19.52 ± 3.00 weeks gestation) and reported life stressors over the past 6 months. Hg was assessed in toe nail clippings collected during pregnancy. Results: There were no main effects of Hg or psychosocial stress exposure on diurnal cortisol (ps > .20) but strong evidence of interaction effects on cortisol slope (interaction B = .006, SE = .003, p = .034) and cortisol at times 1 and 2 (interaction B = -.071, SE = .028, p = .013; B = -.078, SE = .032, p  = .014). Women above the median for Hg and psychosocial stress exposure experienced a blunted morning cortisol response compared to women exposed to higher stress but lower Hg levels. Conclusions: Social and physical environmental factors interact to alter aspects of maternal diurnal cortisol during pregnancy. Research focusing solely on either domain may miss synergistic influences with potentially important consequences to the offspring.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C., Hsu, H.-H., Amarasiriwardena, C., Coull, B. A., Schnaas, L., Tellez-Rojo, M. M., Tamayo y Ortiz, M., Wright, R. J., & Wright, R. O. (2015). Mercury and psychosocial stress exposure interact to predict maternal ambulatory cortisol during pregnancy. Environmental Health, 14(28).

Publications / Trauma — No Comments
15
Sep 15

Childhood abuse is associated with increased hair cortisol levels among urban pregnant women

Background Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis activity is known to be altered following events such as childhood abuse. However, despite potential adverse consequences for the offspring of women who have experienced abuse, very little is known about altered HPA axis activity during pregnancy. Methods During pregnancy, 180 women from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds reported on their exposure to emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse before the age of 11, and general post-traumatic stress symptoms (ie, not limited to childhood years or abuse experiences). Around delivery, they provided hair samples for the assessment of cortisol levels during pregnancy. Hair cortisol was assessed for each pregnancy trimester. The effect of childhood abuse on hair cortisol was assessed using mixed-effects analyses of covariance models allowing for within-subject correlated observations, and were first performed in the entire sample and subsequently stratified by race/ethnicity. Results Controlling for post-traumatic stress symptoms, hair cortisol levels varied by history of child abuse, F(2,166)=3.66, p=0.028. Childhood physical and/or sexual abuse was associated with greater hair cortisol levels, t(166)=2.65, p=0.009, compared with no history of abuse. Because childhood rates of abuse and hair cortisol levels varied by race/ethnicity, analyses were stratified by race/ethnicity. The associations between history of abuse and cortisol levels were only significant among black women, F(2,23)=5.37, p=0.012. Conclusions Childhood abuse, especially physical and/ or sexual abuse, is associated with differences in cortisol production during pregnancy, particularly among black women. Future research should investigate how these differences impact physical and mental health outcomes among offspring of affected women.

CITATION: Schreier, H. M. C., Bosquet Enlow, M., Ritz, T., Gennings, C., & Wright, R. J. (2015). Childhood abuse is associated with increased hair cortisol levels among urban pregnant women. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 69(12), 1169-1174.

Family Influences / Publications — No Comments
09
Sep 15

Maternal sensitivity and infant autonomic and endocrine stress response

Background: Early environmental exposures may help shape the development of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, influencing vulnerability for health problems across the lifespan. Little is known about the role of maternal sensitivity in influencing the development of the ANS in early life. Aims: To examine associations among maternal sensitivity and infant behavioral distress and ANS and HPA axis reactivity to the Repeated Still-Face Paradigm (SFP-R), a dyadic stress task. Study Design: Observational repeated measures study. Subjects: Thirty-five urban, sociodemographically diverse mothers and their 6-month-old infants. Outcome Measures: Changes in infant affective distress, heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and T-wave amplitude (TWA) across episodes of the SFP-R were assessed. A measure of cortisol output (area under the curve) in the hour following cessation of the SFP-R was also obtained. Results: Greater maternal insensitivity was associated with greater infant sympathetic activation (TWA) during periods of stress and tended to be associated with greater cortisol output following the SFP-R. There was also evidence for greater affective distress and less parasympathetic activation (RSA) during the SFP-R among infants of predominantly insensitive mothers. Conslusions: Caregiving quality in early life may influence the responsiveness of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS as well as the HPA axis. Consideration of the ANS and HPA axis systems together provides a fuller representation of adaptive versus maladaptive stress responses. The findings highlight the importance of supporting high quality caregiving in the early years of life, which is likely to promote later health.

CITATION: Bosquet Enlow, M., King, L., Schreier, H. M. C., Howard, J. M., Rosenfield, D., Ritz, T., & Wright, R. J. (2014). Maternal sensitivity and infant autonomic and endocrine stress response. Early Human Development, 90(7), 377-385.

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