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An exploratory analysis of the joint contribution of HPA axis activation and motivation to early adolescent depressive symptoms.

June 23, 2018 by IISBR

Background:

This study examines the interactive contribution of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and approach-avoidance motivation systems to longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms across the adolescent transition. In the summer prior to, or fall of, 4th grade, 132 youth (68 girls; 64 boys; M age = 9.46 years) participated in a social challenge task and reported on their depressive symptoms. In the winter of 6th grade, youth completed a semi-structured interview of depression and a self-report measure of approach-avoidance motivations. Analyses revealed two profiles of risk for adolescent depressive symptoms, with some gender differences: (1) excessive disengagement, reflected in HPA underactivation along with low approach motivation or high avoidance motivation; and (2) excessive engagement, reflected in HPA overactivation along with high approach motivation. This research highlights the importance of a multi-system perspective on development, suggesting that the implications of HPA dysregulation for depressive symptoms are contingent on adolescents’ tendencies toward approach versus avoidance.

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Tagged With: adolescence, cortisol, Depression, Gender, motivation

An exploratory analysis of the joint contribution of HPA axis activation and motivation to early adolescent depressive symptoms.

February 10, 2018 by IISBR

Background:

This study examines the interactive contribution of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and approach-avoidance motivation systems to longitudinal changes in depressive symptoms across the adolescent transition. In the summer prior to, or fall of, 4th grade, 132 youth (68 girls; 64 boys; M age = 9.46 years) participated in a social challenge task and reported on their depressive symptoms. In the winter of 6th grade, youth completed a semi-structured interview of depression and a self-report measure of approach-avoidance motivations. Analyses revealed two profiles of risk for adolescent depressive symptoms, with some gender differences: (1) excessive disengagement, reflected in HPA underactivation along with low approach motivation or high avoidance motivation; and (2) excessive engagement, reflected in HPA overactivation along with high approach motivation. This research highlights the importance of a multi-system perspective on development, suggesting that the implications of HPA dysregulation for depressive symptoms are contingent on adolescents’ tendencies toward approach versus avoidance.

View Abstract

Tagged With: adolescence, cortisol, Depression, Gender, motivation

Association between body mass index and salivary uric acid among Mexican-origin infants, youth and adults: Gender and developmental differences.

December 2, 2016 by IISBR

Background:

Uric acid (UA) is the end product of the metabolic breakdown of purine nucleotides. Recent studies have measured UA in saliva in relation to obesity and chronic disease risk. Given the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Latino youth, we examined gender and age differences in salivary uric acid (sUA) and weight in a sample of Mexican-origin children (n = 65, 2 months to 18 years, 49% female) and adults (n = 46, 19-58 years, 72% female). We measured weight, height, waist, and hip circumference and collected saliva samples (later assayed for sUA). Structural equation models estimated the relationship between age, developmental stage, and weight outcomes in relation to sUA levels between genders, while controlling for race. Results demonstrate that increased sUA levels were related to higher BMI percentiles in females of all ages (β = 0.43, p < .001). There were significant differences in sUA levels between developmental stages for girls, with female toddlers having the highest sUA levels (β = .28, p = .02). In an interaction between BMI z-score and gender between youth and adults, BMI has a larger effect on increasing sUA levels among younger girls (β = 0.27, p < .03) and adult women (β = 0.33, p = .02). Levels of sUA may be gender-specific in relation to BMI and developmental stage. View Abstract

Tagged With: body mass index, Gender, Hispanics, infants and children, Latinos, salivary uric acid

Concurrent and prospective associations between HPA axis activity and depression symptoms in newlywed women.

September 7, 2016 by IISBR

Background:
We investigated the extent to which individual differences in activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) are associated with depressive symptoms among newlywed couples. Participants were 218 couples (M age 28.4 years; 94% White) who provided 5 saliva samples (later assayed for cortisol and DHEA-S) before and after participation in a discussion of a major area of disagreement in their relationship. Depressive symptoms were assessed initially, and approximately 19- and 37-months later. Results revealed an interactive effect suggesting that concordant levels of cortisol and DHEA-S (either both high or both low) were concurrently and prospectively associated with higher depression scores. Interestingly, this interactive effect was observed for wives only – not for husbands. These observations underscore contemporary theoretical assumptions that the expression of the association between HPA activity and depression is dependent on factors related to the interaction between characteristics of the person and features of the social environment, and moderated by co-occurring variation in endocrine milieu.

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Tagged With: cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate, Depression, DHEA-S, Gender, Marital interactions

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Recent Publications

  • Kimonis, E. R., et al. (2018). Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its ratio to cortisol moderate associations between maltreatment and psychopathology in male juvenile offenders. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
  • Gatzke-Kopp, L. M., et al. (2018). Magnitude and Chronicity of Environmental Smoke Exposure Across Infancy and Early Childhood in a Sample of Low-Income Children. Nicotine Tob Res.
  • Pisanic, N., et al. (2018). Minimally Invasive Saliva Testing to Monitor Norovirus Infection in Community Settings. J Infect Dis.
  • Affifi, T. D., et al. (2018). Testing the theory of resilience and relational load (TRRL) in families with type I diabetes. Health Commun.
  • Wheelock, M.D., et al. (2018). Psychosocial stress reactivity is associated with decreased whole brain network efficiency and increased amygdala centrality. Behav Neurosci.
  • Kornienko, O., et al. (2018). Associations Between Secretory Immunoglobulin A and Social Network Structure. Int J Behav Med.
  • Kuhlman, K. R., et al. (2018). Interparental conflict and child HPA-axis responses to acute stress: Insights using intensive repeated measures. J Fam Psychol.
  • Kuhlman, K. R., et al. (2018). HPA-Axis Activation as a Key Moderator of Childhood Trauma Exposure and Adolescent Mental Health. Journal of abnormal child psychology.
  • Corey-Bloom, J., et al. (2018). Salivary levels of total huntingtin are elevated in Huntington’s disease patients. Sci Rep.
  • Martinez, A. D., et al. (2018). Household fear of deportation in Mexican-origin families: Relation to body mass index percentiles and salivary uric acid. Am J Hum Biol.
  • Lucas, T., et al. (2018). Justice for all? Beliefs about justice for self and others and telomere length in African Americans. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol.
  • Woerner, J., et al. (2018). Salivary uric acid: Associations with resting and reactive blood pressure response to social evaluative stress in healthy African Americans. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
  • Riis J.L., et al. (2018). The validity, stability, and utility of measuring uric acid in saliva. Biomark Med.

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