HPA system regulation and adult attachment anxiety: Individual differences in reactive and awakening cortisol

Quirin, Markus; Pruessner, Jens C.; Kühl, Julius

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.01.013

Cited by 147 publications

(133 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…In this study, the relationship between a smaller CAR and fear of rejection was hypothesized and in 20 line with previous studies (Oskis et al, 2011;Quirin et al, 2008;Tops et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

“…We tested two main hypotheses. First, in line with previous studies of adults and suggesting links between dysregulated diurnal cortisol profiles and insecure-anxious attachment (Kidd, Hamer, & Steptoe, 2013;Oskis et al, 2011;Quirin et al, 2008), we expected specific dimensions of attachment anxiety, including fear of rejection and separation/abandonment, would predict a flatter awakening response of cortisol. Second, in line with evolutionary-developmental theories of biological stress regulation, we expected less attachment behavior/support seeking towards the primary caregiver, manifested by less confiding (presumably reflecting greater adolescent autonomy), would predict higher levels of basal DHEA.…”

Section: The Current Studysupporting

confidence: 73%

“…There is a wealth of evidence to support cortisol's role as a quintessential stress hormone, and it is perhaps especially pertinent to attachment that this hormone is activated during socio-evaluative and interpersonal threat (Dickerson & Kemeny, 2004). Dysregulated basal levels of cortisol, especially the burst of cortisol secretion that occurs around 30-45 min following awakening (cortisol awakening response: CAR), have been found in females categorized as anxious-insecurely attached (Oskis, Loveday, Hucklebridge, Thorn, & Clow, 2011;Quirin, Pruessner, & Kuhl, 2008). There is also evidence linking attachment anxiety to reduced cell concentration in the left hippocampus, which may underpin aberrant HPA axis function in those with anxious attachment (Quirin, Gillath, Pruessner, & Eggert, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Biological Stress Regulation in Female Adolescents: A Key Role for Confiding

Oskis

Clow

Loveday

et al. 2014

J Youth Adolescence

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Attachment behaviors play a critical role in regulating emotion within the context of close relationships, and attachment theory is currently used to inform evidence-based practice in the areas of adolescent health and social care. This study investigated the association between female adolescents' interview-based attachment behaviors and two markers of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity: cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). Unlike the classic stress hormone cortisol, there is very limited investigation of DHEA-a quintessential developmental hormone-in relation to attachment, especially in adolescents. Fifty-five healthy females mean age 14.36 (± 2.41) years participated in the Attachment Style Interview. A smaller cortisol awakening response was related to anxious attachment attitudes, including more fear of rejection, whereas greater morning basal DHEA secretion was only predicted by lower levels of reported confiding in one's mother. These attachment-hormone relationships may be developmental markers in females, as they were independent of menarche status. These findings highlight that the normative shifts occurring in attachment to caregivers around adolescence are reflected in adolescents' biological stress regulation. We discuss how studying these shifts can be informed by evolutionary-developmental theory.

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“…In this study, the relationship between a smaller CAR and fear of rejection was hypothesized and in 20 line with previous studies (Oskis et al, 2011;Quirin et al, 2008;Tops et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 76%

Section: The Current Studysupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Biological Stress Regulation in Female Adolescents: A Key Role for Confiding

Oskis

Clow

Loveday

et al. 2014

J Youth Adolescence

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“…For example in one study avoidant (but not anxious) attachment predicted enhanced stressinduced cortisol responding in females (Powers et al, 2006) whilst the opposite was found in another study (Quirin et al, 2008). Other studies have reported insecure dismissing attachment style to predict enhanced cortisol reactivity (Pierrehumbert et al, 2012;RifkinGraboi, 2008) whereas secure and dismissive attachment styles have been reported as similar elsewhere (Kidd et al, 2011).…”

mentioning

confidence: 93%

“…A flattened diurnal rhythm of cortisol secretion has been reported in anxious attachment style (Oskis et al, 2011;Quirin et al, 2008) however there are mixed findings from studies examining reactivity of the HPA axis in relation to attachment style.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

Thorn

Oskis

Hucklebridge

et al. 2015

Stress

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Insecure attachment style is associated with poor health outcomes. A proposed pathway implicates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis), dysregulation of which is associated with a wide range of mental and physical ill-health. However data on stress reactivity in relation to attachment style is contradictory. This relationship was examined using the novel Trier Social Stress Test for groups (TSST-G): a group-based acute psychosocial stressor. Each participant, in the presence of other group members, individually performed public speaking and mental arithmetic tasks. Seventy-eight healthy young females (20.2 ± 3.2 years), in groups of up to 6 participants completed demographic information and the Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ), and were then exposed to the TSST-G. Physiological stress reactivity was assessed using salivary cortisol concentrations, measured on 7 occasions at 10-minute intervals. Vulnerable attachment predicted greater cortisol reactivity independent of age, smoking status, menstrual phase and BMI. Supplementary analysis indicated that insecure anxious attachment style (high scores on the insecurity and proximity seeking sub-scales of the VASQ) showed greater cortisol reactivity than participants with secure attachment style. Avoidant attachment style (high scores for insecurity and low scores for proximity seeking) was not significantly different from the secure attachment style. Attachment style was not associated with the timing of the cortisol peak or post-stress recovery in cortisol concentrations. These findings in healthy young females indicate subtle underlying changes in HPA axis function in relation to attachment style and may be important for future mental health and well-being.

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Support for religio‐political aggression among teenaged boys in Gaza: Part II: Neuroendocrinological findings

Victoroff¹,

Quota²,

Adelman³

et al. 2010

Aggressive Behavior

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Hormones seem to play important roles in the regulation of human aggression. Multiple studies have confirmed that testosterone (T) levels exhibit complex relationships with aggression, dominance, and/or risk-taking behavior. Some evidence suggests that cortisol (CORT) interacts with T and may also be associated with aspects of mood and aggression. However, almost no research to date has investigated the possibility that these neuroendocrine factors are associated with variations in political attitudes or with political aggression. During the second intifada, we tested the hypothesis that morning salivary T and/or salivary CORT levels might be associated with self-rated aggression or with support for religio-political aggression (RPA) among 14-year-old Palestinian boys living in Gaza. We obtained and averaged weekly 09:00 hr salivary measures of T and CORT for more than 1 month. Averaged morning T levels did not correlate with self-rated aggression, but were positively associated with agreement with the statement "religious ends justify any means," (r = .355, P = .014) and marginally associated with a composite measure of support for RPA (r = .247, P = .094). Average CORT levels were inversely correlated with self-rated aggression (r = -.328, P = .037) and with anger (r = -.373, P = .016), but CORT levels were not associated with support for RPA or with the statement "religious ends justify any means." Acknowledging that a modest sample size and methodological issues necessarily limit confidence in our conclusions, these results may represent the first findings regarding neurobiological correlates of support for political aggression.

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HPA system regulation and adult attachment anxiety: Individual differences in reactive and awakening cortisol

Cited by 147 publications

References 82 publications

Biological Stress Regulation in Female Adolescents: A Key Role for Confiding

Biological Stress Regulation in Female Adolescents: A Key Role for Confiding

Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

Support for religio‐political aggression among teenaged boys in Gaza: Part II: Neuroendocrinological findings

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