Cortisol and Children’s Adjustment: The Moderating Role of Sympathetic Nervous System Activity

Abstract

We examined relations among cortisol, markers of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity (including salivary alpha-amylase and skin conductance level), and children's adjustment. We also tested the Bauer et al. (Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 23(2), 102-113, 2002) hypothesis that interactions between the SNS and cortisol would be associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. Saliva samples were obtained from 8- to 9-year-olds before and after a laboratory assessment battery, and were assayed for cortisol and alpha-amylase (sAA). Basal skin conductance level (SCL) was measured during resting conditions. Parents reported on child adjustment. Interactions between basal SNS and cortisol levels explained moderate amounts of unique variance in children's externalizing and internalizing problems. More specifically, higher basal cortisol levels were positively associated with higher internalizing and externalizing problems among children with higher SNS activity, as compared to children with lower SNS activity. Findings underscore the utility of including information about the coordination between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and SNS activity in biosocial models of atypical child development.

Inter-relation between autonomic and HPA axis activity in children and adolescents

“…The current results were largely consistent with the few previous studies that considered the interaction between the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis among adults Uchino et al, 1995) and children and adolescents (El-Sheikh et al, 2008;Gordis, Granger, Susman, & Trickett, 2006). Similar to our findings, adult studies using laboratory stressors reported the HPA axis stress response was only evident among individuals with greater sympathetic activity, indexed by pre-ejection period; yet, HF was not associated with the HPA axis stress response Uchino et al, 1995).…”

“…Ambulatory or laboratory-based stress studies with children and adolescents that examined the interaction between the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis could not be identified. However, sympathetic activity measured by alpha-amylase has been reported to influence the association between cortisol and aggressive behavior (Gordis et al, 2006), and internalizing and externalizing symptoms (El-Sheikh et al, 2008). Contrary to the current study, one study found that children with asymmetric cardio-autonomic and HPA axis activity (e.g., low HF, high cortisol) had the highest levels of anxiety and depression symptoms (El-Sheikh et al, 2011); however, three methodological differences likely account for these discrepancies: outcome variable, age of participants, and HPA axis measure.…”

“…Gordis et al (2006) found that the interaction of alpha-amylase and cortisol accounted for 7% of the variance in children's aggressive behavior. El-Sheikh et al (2008) reported that the interaction of HF and cortisol accounted for between 2-14% of the variance in anxiety and depressive symptoms. Overall, the current findings support emerging theories in the field of stress physiology that emphasize the importance of considering the inter-relation among physiological components of the stress response system (Bauer et al, 2002;Del Giudice et al, 2010).…”

“…Diurnal slope is characterized as the decline in cortisol over the day. Single sample cortisol measures are commonly reported as well, including the maximum or specific time of day (e.g., morning, afternoon, bedtime; cf., Blair, Peters, & Granger, 2004;Cohen et al, 2006;El-Sheikh, Erath, Buckhalt, Granger, & Mize, 2008;Lupien, King, Meaney, & McEwen, 2001). …”

Investigation of the Endogenous Stress Response System in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia

“…In support of this idea, experimental animals undergoing repeated stress exposure have been shown to exhibit dissociated stress-induced responses of the SNS and HPA axis [38]. Whatever its causes, it has been suggested that dissociation between these two biological systems may have unhealthy consequences especially in young subjects [39] since dissociation in children's salivary α-amylase and cortisol reactivity to challenges was reported to be associated with some degree of cognitive dysfunction [40]. The extent to which the dissociation observed in our study could contribute to cognitive dysfunctions of patients with chronic schizophrenia remains to be established.…”