Abstract
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has been proposed to be a key mechanism
underlying the link between adversity and mental health, but longitudinal studies on adversity and HPA-axis functioning are scarce. Here, we studied adversity-driven changes in HPA-axis functioning during adolescence (N = 141). HPA-axis functioning (basal cortisol, cortisol awakening response, anticipation of, reaction to and recovery after a stress task) was measured twice, at age 16 and 19. Adversity (i.e., social defeat and loss/illness) since age 16 was measured extensively with the Life Stress Interview at age 19. Adolescents who reported being exposed to social defeat showed increases in basal cortisol (ɳ2 = 0.029) and decreases in reaction to the stress task (ɳ2 = 0.030) from age 16–19, compared to their peers in the loss/illness and no stress group. The current study provides unique longitudinal data on the role of adversity in HPA-axis functioning. Evidence is provided that adversity can affect the body’s neuroendocrine response to stress, dependent on the nature of both the HPA-measures and adverse events under study.
underlying the link between adversity and mental health, but longitudinal studies on adversity and HPA-axis functioning are scarce. Here, we studied adversity-driven changes in HPA-axis functioning during adolescence (N = 141). HPA-axis functioning (basal cortisol, cortisol awakening response, anticipation of, reaction to and recovery after a stress task) was measured twice, at age 16 and 19. Adversity (i.e., social defeat and loss/illness) since age 16 was measured extensively with the Life Stress Interview at age 19. Adolescents who reported being exposed to social defeat showed increases in basal cortisol (ɳ2 = 0.029) and decreases in reaction to the stress task (ɳ2 = 0.030) from age 16–19, compared to their peers in the loss/illness and no stress group. The current study provides unique longitudinal data on the role of adversity in HPA-axis functioning. Evidence is provided that adversity can affect the body’s neuroendocrine response to stress, dependent on the nature of both the HPA-measures and adverse events under study.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 49-55 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Psychoneuroendocrinology |
| Volume | 85 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2017 |
Keywords
- HPA-axis
- social defeat
- longitudinal
- adolescence
- loss
- stressors