School-Aged Children's Cognitive Interdependence as a Prospective Link Between Their Depressive Symptoms and Physiological Stress Reactivity

Abstract

Associations between children's depressive symptoms and physiological stress reactivity have been identified across many investigations. Similarly, a large body of literature explores the cognitive correlates of depressive symptomatology in childhood. To date, few studies conducted with children have integrated these approaches. In the present study, we examine a well-documented correlate of depression in adults; low cognitive interdependence (as measured via pronoun use, or we-ratio), in a child population. We explore the relation of low cognitive interdependence to children's concurrent depressive symptoms as well as their concurrent and later stress reactivity. At Time 1, we assessed school-aged children's (N = 60) depressive symptoms and children's we-ratio from an interview about their school experiences. Two weeks later (Time 2), children provided salivary cortisol samples before and after a stressor task. At Time 3 (1.5 years later), children provided cortisol samples before and after completing a different stressor task. Children's depressive symptoms were concurrently associated with lower we-ratio, which in turn was prospectively, but not concurrently, associated with higher cortisol reactivity, acting as an indirect effect between depression and later reactivity. These findings suggest that low levels of cognitive interdependence may be one mechanism by which children's depressive symptoms forecast heightened reactivity to stress.

Associations between attachment and pain: From infant to adolescent

“…Similarly, as confirmed by preliminary findings, discrepancies between physiological activation and reported reactivity to stressors are significantly associated with adverse health outcomes in school-age children and adolescents. 81…”

“…Similarly, as confirmed by preliminary findings, discrepancies between physiological activation and reported reactivity to stressors are significantly associated with adverse health outcomes in school-age children and adolescents. 81 Moreover, Kozlowska and Williams 45 found that 86% of children and adolescents with conversion and somatoform disorders, including functional pain syndromes, exhibit pattern of information processing related to inhibitory and/or excitatory self-protective strategies. Both anxious attachment developmental pathways (Types A and C) seem to contribute to adolescent and young adult conversion pathophysiology.…”