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Background Person and environment-related childhood adverse events have been demonstrated to increase the risk of impaired mental health in later life differently for boys and girls. Altered hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA)-axis functioning has been suggested as a key mechanism underlying this association. Cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are both output hormones of the HPA-axis. DHEA may have a protective function against long-term exposure to increased levels of cortisol, but has been little investigated in relation to childhood adversity. Objective We aimed to test the associations between person-, and environment-related childhood adversity and levels of cortisol, DHEA and cortisol/DHEA ratio in adolescent boys and girls. Methods A total of 215 Dutch adolescents participated in the study and filled out the 27-item Adverse Life Events Questionnaire for the assessment of childhood adversity, which was split up in separate scores for person-related and environment-related events. Cortisol and DHEA concentrations and cortisol/DHEA ratio were determined in proximal 3 cm long hair segments. Additionally, saliva samples were collected immediately and 30 minutes after waking up, at noon and at 8 pm. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to test associations between childhood adversity and cortisol and DHEA concentrations, for boys and girls separately, with age, BMI and pubertal development as covariates.

Relational victimization typically emerges first during the elementary school period, and has been associated with increased levels of internalizing symptoms in children. Individual differences in autonomic nervous system functioning have been suggested as a potential factor linking social stressors and internalizing symptoms. The aim of this study was therefore to examine whether heart rate and heart rate variability mediated the association between relational victimization and internalizing symptoms in 373 mainstream elementary school children. Children were assessed in 2015 (T0; Grades 3–5, M age = 9.78 years, 51% boys) and reassessed in 2016 (T1). Heart rate and heart rate variability were assessed during a regular school day at T1. A multi-informant (teacher and peer report) cross-time measure of relational victimization, and a multi-informant (self- and teacher report) measure of internalizing problems at T1 was used. Results showed that heart rate variability, but not heart rate, mediated the association between relational victimization and internalizing symptoms. This study provides tentative support that in children from a general population sample, a psychobiological factor may mediate the association of relational victimization with internalizing symptoms.

Background: Perceived stress associated with relational victimization from peers and conflictual relations with the teacher have been linked with the development of anxiety symptoms in children. Living in conditions of ongoing stress from the broader environment has also been related to anxiety symptoms in children. In this study, we examined (a) the indirect effect between classroom psychosocial stressors (i.e., relational victimization and conflictual relationships with teachers), perceived stress and anxiety symptom development, and (b) whether this indirect effect was stronger for children living in a high threat region than for children living in a lower threat region. Methods: Children participating in the study attended elementary school either in a high threat of armed conflict region (15 s to hide in bomb shelter when alarm sounds, n = 220) or in a lower threat of armed conflict region (60 s to hide in a bomb shelter when alarm sounds, n = 188) in Israel. Children were first assessed on conflictual relationships with teachers and peers, subjectively perceived stress and anxiety in 2017 (T 0 ; M age = 10.61 years, SD = 0.78; 45% boys) and re-assessed (T 1 ) 1 year later, in 2018.Results: Perceived stress mediated the association between classroom psychosocial stressors and anxiety development. No moderation by threat-region was found in this indirect effect. However, the association between perceived stress and anxiety development was only significant for children in the high threat region. Conclusion:Our study suggests that threat of war conflict amplifies the association between perceived stress and the development of anxiety symptoms.

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