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Anderson AM, Sherman J, Fitzpatrick MM, Browning C, Kertes DA, Mackos A, Pickler RH, Smith L, Ford JL. Associations between adolescent perceived loneliness and hair cortisol concentration. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 170:107184. [PMID: 39332136 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adolescents experience high levels of loneliness, which is linked to poor health in adulthood. Loneliness may contribute to poor health through chronic dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In this analysis, we examined the associations between survey- and ecological momentary assessment (EMA)-based measures of loneliness and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in a sample of 1102 adolescents and assessed sex differences in this relationship. METHODS Data came from wave 1 of the Adolescent Health and Development in Context study. We conducted a series of multivariable linear regression models to examine the associations between loneliness and HCC. Models were adjusted for adolescent and caregiver demographics, adolescent clinical factors, adolescent hair care practices, and adolescent lifetime mental health diagnosis and current psychotropic medication use. An interaction term between sex and loneliness was added to assess for effect moderation. RESULTS In our sample, the mean HCC was 1.35 pg/mg (SD=1.1). The mean for the unstandardized survey loneliness measure was 1.79 (SD=0.79) for the total analytic sample. The unstandardized mean for the EMA loneliness measure was - 0.02 (SD=2.1) for the total analytic sample. In model one testing the bivariate linear relationship between loneliness and HCC, higher loneliness via survey and EMA measures was associated with lower HCC (Survey: b= - 0.10, SE=0.03, p=.004; EMA: b= - 0.09, SE=0.03, p=.005). In model two, higher loneliness remained significantly associated with lower HCC (Survey: b= - 0.07, SE=0.03, p=.023; EMA: b= - 0.07, SE=0.03, p=.037), after controlling for the following covariates: sociodemographic factors, pubertal development and BMI, corticosteroid use, hair care practices, season of collection and assayed hair length. In model 3, youth lifetime mental health diagnosis and current psychotropic medication use were added into the regression model, and higher loneliness remained significantly associated with lower HCC (Survey: b= - 0.07, SE=0.03, p=.029; EMA: b= - 0.07, SE=0.03, p=.039). There was no effect modification by sex (Survey: b=0.04, SE=0.06, p=.552; EMA: b= - 0.01, SE=0.06, p=.843). CONCLUSIONS In our analysis, both survey- and EMA-reported loneliness measures were associated with lower HCC. No evidence of an interaction between sex and loneliness was observed. Future research is needed to validate these findings and investigate longitudinal relationships among adolescent loneliness, stress physiology, and downstream health sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jessica Sherman
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | | | - Darlene A Kertes
- University of Florida Department of Psychology, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Amy Mackos
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Rita H Pickler
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Lindsay Smith
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jodi L Ford
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, OH, USA
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Barron-Linnankoski STA, Raaska HK, Reiterä PH, Laasonen MR, Elovainio MJ. Hair cortisol and psychiatric symptomatology in children; outcomes of group CBT. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2024; 20:100263. [PMID: 39328425 PMCID: PMC11425118 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2024.100263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The associations between hair cortisol concentration (HCC), a biomarker of chronic stress, and behavior and sleep disturbance symptoms have not been studied in children with psychiatric disorders. While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has proven effective in treating psychiatric symptoms in children, its potential biological implications as determined by HCC have not been investigated. We explored associations between HCC, behavior and sleep disturbance symptoms, and different diagnostic groupings (depression/anxiety, ADHD, or other types of psychiatric disorders) in clinician-diagnosed 6-12-year-old children (n = 100) with mixed psychiatric disorders and comorbidities. In addition, we examined whether group CBT led to changes in HCC, behavior symptoms, and sleep disturbance symptoms and whether any fluctuations in HCC levels were associated with potential symptom change. We collected data on HCC, internalizing and externalizing symptoms (The Spence Children's Anxiety Self-Report, Child Behavior Checklist, and Teacher Report Form), and sleep disturbance symptoms (The Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children) at three time points (baseline, post-treatment, and seven-month follow-up). Baseline HCC was not associated with behavior or sleep disturbance symptoms, whereas behavior and sleep disturbance symptoms were mutually correlated. No changes in HCC levels were observed with group CBT. Moreover, potential variations in HCC levels over the course of the study did not appear to be associated with behavior symptom relief after group CBT. Our findings suggest that HCC may not be a methodologically relevant biomarker of behavior or sleep disturbance symptoms in children with diverse psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarianna T A Barron-Linnankoski
- Child Psychiatry, Children and Adolescents, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna K Raaska
- Child Psychiatry, Children and Adolescents, New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- The Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Paula H Reiterä
- Biostatistics Consulting, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marja R Laasonen
- Logopedics, School of Humanities, Philosophical Faculty, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Marko J Elovainio
- Department of Psychology/ Research Program Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
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Bates RA, Dynia JM. Psychological and Physiological Stress and Stressors in Early Childhood Educators: An Observational Pilot Study. PSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS 2024; 61:1413-1439. [PMID: 38933217 PMCID: PMC11198965 DOI: 10.1002/pits.23118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
While early childhood educators' mental health is important, it may also affect the well-being and education of their students. Yet, little research has described the stress and stressors of early childhood educators (ECEs), particularly as the pandemic wanes. This pilot study aimed to (1) describe ECEs' psychological and physiological stress and (2) examine the association between ECEs' psychological and physiological stress levels with stressors. A convenience sample of 67 ECEs, serving children 0-5 years old from 13 early educational centers completed surveys on psychological stress (perceived stress, anxiety, and depression), stressors (economic hardship, food insecurity, adverse childhood experiences), and demographics in Fall 2021. A subsample of ECEs provided hair samples, analyzed for cortisol, to estimate physiologic stress. Regarding stress, 63% met the criteria for major depressive disorder and 41% for generalized anxiety disorder. Only 26% were taking medications to manage mental health. About 25% experienced the stressors of food insecurity and economic hardship; 80% experienced at least one adverse childhood experience. Only education level significantly predicted perceived stress and depression - above and beyond stressors, household income, race, and age. The results have policy and practice implications for implementing evidence-based solutions to buffer stress and stressors in early childhood educators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi A. Bates
- University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Albdour M, Templin T, Zilioli S, Hong JS, Lumley MA. Current and Cumulative Stress Experiences: A Model for Arab American Young Adults. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2024; 30:364-377. [PMID: 36217725 DOI: 10.1177/10783903221110235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of multiple stressors on immigrant young adults' endocrine functioning and health outcomes has not been comprehensively investigated. AIMS This study tested a theoretical model of cumulative and current stressor effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among Arab American young adults. METHODS Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 160 participants, ages 18 to 24 years, from an urban university in the Midwest. Cumulative stress was assessed by self-report measures of childhood adversity, bullying victimization, and perceived ethnic discrimination. Current perceived stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) while cortisol levels were measured in participants' hair. Structural equation modeling tested the effects of cumulative and current stress on cortisol and HRQL. RESULTS Cumulative stress was negatively associated with HRQL (standardized path coefficient = -.51, p < .05). Interestingly, however, cumulative stress was inversely associated with hair cortisol level (standardized path coefficient = -.51, p < .05). Current stress was positively associated with cortisol level (standardized path coefficient = .43, p < .05) and negatively associated with the mental HRQL (standardized path coefficient < -.37, p < .05). CONCLUSION Cumulative stress exhibited a different effect on HPA functioning from current perceived stress. Mental health was significantly impaired by both cumulative and current perceived stress. Implications for mental health nursing practice and research among Arab Americans are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Albdour
- Maha Albdour, PhD, APHN-BC, RN, College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Thomas Templin
- Thomas Templin, PhD, College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Samuele Zilioli, PhD, Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jun Sung Hong
- Jun Sung Hong, PhD, School of Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Mark A Lumley
- Mark A. Lumley, PhD, Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
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Yin B, Cai Y, Teng T, Wang X, Liu X, Li X, Wang J, Wu H, He Y, Ren F, Kou T, Zhu ZJ, Zhou X. Identifying plasma metabolic characteristics of major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia in adolescents. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:163. [PMID: 38531835 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02886-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SCZ) are classified as major mental disorders and together account for the second-highest global disease burden, and half of these patients experience symptom onset in adolescence. Several studies have reported both similar and unique features regarding the risk factors and clinical symptoms of these three disorders. However, it is still unclear whether these disorders have similar or unique metabolic characteristics in adolescents. We conducted a metabolomics analysis of plasma samples from adolescent healthy controls (HCs) and patients with MDD, BD, and SCZ. We identified differentially expressed metabolites between patients and HCs. Based on the differentially expressed metabolites, correlation analysis, metabolic pathway analysis, and potential diagnostic biomarker identification were conducted for disorders and HCs. Our results showed significant changes in plasma metabolism between patients with these mental disorders and HCs; the most distinct changes were observed in SCZ patients. Moreover, the metabolic differences in BD patients shared features with those in both MDD and SCZ, although the BD metabolic profile was closer to that of MDD than to SCZ. Additionally, we identified the metabolites responsible for the similar and unique metabolic characteristics in multiple metabolic pathways. The similar significant differences among the three disorders were found in fatty acid, steroid-hormone, purine, nicotinate, glutamate, tryptophan, arginine, and proline metabolism. Interestingly, we found unique characteristics of significantly altered glycolysis, glycerophospholipid, and sphingolipid metabolism in SCZ; lysine, cysteine, and methionine metabolism in MDD and BD; and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and aspartate metabolism in SCZ and BD. Finally, we identified five panels of potential diagnostic biomarkers for MDD-HC, BD-HC, SCZ-HC, MDD-SCZ, and BD-SCZ comparisons. Our findings suggest that metabolic characteristics in plasma vary across psychiatric disorders and that critical metabolites provide new clues regarding molecular mechanisms in these three psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bangmin Yin
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuping Cai
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Teng
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Health Management Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xueer Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyan Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuqian He
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fandong Ren
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tianzhang Kou
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng-Jiang Zhu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xinyu Zhou
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Frost A, Hagaman A, Baranov V, Chung EO, Bhalotra S, Sikander S, Maselko J. Non-linear associations between HPA axis activity during infancy and mental health difficulties during early childhood among children in rural Pakistan. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:2086-2095. [PMID: 35959681 PMCID: PMC9922341 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity may be a mechanism linking early adversity to child mental health difficulties. However, there is a dearth of longitudinal evidence for the association between HPA axis activity and mental health among children in low-resource contexts. The goal of this study is to examine linear and curvilinear associations between HPA axis activity during infancy and mental health difficulties in early childhood among children in rural Pakistan. Participants included 104 children (46% male) from the Bachpan study, a longitudinal cohort embedded within a maternal depression trial in Pakistan. We examined the associations between hair-derived cortisol and dehydroepiandosterone (DHEA) at 12 months old and mental health difficulties, measured with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), at 36 months old. There was a significant quadratic association between hair cortisol and SDQ scores, with results showing a U-shaped relationship (i.e., having relatively high or low cortisol predicted increased mental health difficulties). DHEA showed a quadratic association with SDQ scores with an inverted U-shaped relationship (i.e., high and low DHEA was associated with decreased mental health difficulties). Results provide evidence of longitudinal and curvilinear effects of cortisol and DHEA during infancy on mental health difficulties in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Frost
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | - Ashley Hagaman
- Social Behavioral Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University
| | - Victoria Baranov
- Department of Economics, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Melbourne
| | - Esther O. Chung
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
| | | | - Siham Sikander
- Human Development Research Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Joanna Maselko
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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Ford JL, Pickler R, Browning CR, Tarrence J, Anderson AM, Kertes DA. Associations of depression and anxiety and adolescent telomere length. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 155:106310. [PMID: 37290379 PMCID: PMC10859186 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomere length (TL), a biomarker of cellular aging, is influenced by adverse life experiences. Although depression and anxiety are associated with shorter TL in adults, the relationship in younger ages has received little attention. We examined relationships between depression and anxiety diagnoses and symptomatology and TL in adolescence, an important developmental window for early intervention. Sex differences in relationships were also examined. METHODS Wave 1 survey and TL data from the Adolescent Health and Development in Context study were analyzed (N = 995). Depression and anxiety diagnosis were parent-reported measures categorized as: current diagnosis, prior diagnosis, and never diagnosed (reference category). Depressive symptoms were measured via adolescent-report using nine items from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression scale, short form. Anxiety symptoms were measured via adolescent-report using eight items from the pediatric anxiety scale obtained from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. Genomic DNA was isolated from 500 μL saliva via ethanol precipitation. Genomic DNA TL was assessed using monoplexed quantitative polymerase chain reactions. Relative T/S quantities were calculated in accordance with established procedures. Covariates included sociodemographic factors (sex, age, race/ethnicity, caregiver marital status and education level, and household income), pubertal development, and season of collection. Descriptive and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted, including an examination of sex as a moderator in the relationships between depression, anxiety, and TL. RESULTS In multivariable analysis, adolescents with a current depression diagnosis (b = -0.26, p < .05), but not a prior diagnosis (b =0.05, p > .05) had shorter TL than those who were never diagnosed; higher depressive symptom scores were associated with shorter TL (b = -0.12, p < .05). No significant associations were found between anxiety diagnosis and TL; however, higher anxiety symptom scores were associated with shorter TL (b = -0.14, p < .01). Sex did not significantly moderate any of the relationships between depression, anxiety and TL. CONCLUSIONS Depression and anxiety were associated with shorter TL in this diverse community sample of adolescents and the findings highlight the potential for impaired mental health to contribute to cellular senescence as early as adolescence. Prospective research on the long-term effect of depression and anxiety occurring earlier in the life span on TL over time is needed, including examination of potential mechanisms that may accelerate or buffer the negative effects of impaired mental health on TL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodi L Ford
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, 1577 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
| | - Rita Pickler
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, 1577 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Christopher R Browning
- The Ohio State University, Department of Sociology, 1885 Neil Avenue Mall, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | | | - Avery M Anderson
- The Ohio State University College of Nursing, 1577 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Darlene A Kertes
- University of Florida Department of Psychology, 945 Center Drive/P.O. Box 112250, Gainesville, FL 32611-2250, USA
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Ford JL, Slesnick N, Kelleher K, Brakenhoff B, Chavez L, Feng X, Mallory A, Moore L, O'Connor R, Pinkus L, Sullenbarger B, Yilmazer T, Zavarella H. Hair Collection for Cortisol Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness. Nurs Res 2023; 72:371-376. [PMID: 37625179 PMCID: PMC10662939 DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Investigations of chronic physiological stress measured by hair cortisol are rapidly expanding among community samples of adolescents and adults. However, research examining physiological stress among youth experiencing homelessness is nascent despite the youth's increased risk for adverse exposures and subsequent impaired mental health. OBJECTIVE This article aimed to examine the feasibility of collecting hair for measuring cortisol among diverse youth experiencing homelessness and gain an understanding of variation in participation. METHODS Analysis of survey and hair participation data from three pilot studies among youth experiencing homelessness was conducted. Survey measures included sociodemographic characteristics (age, race and ethnicity, sex assigned at birth, and sexual orientation) and reasons for nonparticipation. Descriptive analysis examined participation rates in hair collection for cortisol measurement, including sociodemographic differences in participation. RESULTS Participation in the hair sampling for cortisol was high for the combined sample (88.4%), with some variation across the three pilot studies. Insufficient hair for cutting was the most common reason for not participating; Black and multiracial youth, as well as male youth, had a higher prevalence of nonparticipation. DISCUSSION The collection of hair for cortisol research among youth experiencing homelessness is feasible, and integration of physiological measures of stress into research with this vulnerable population should be considered, given their high risk for adversity and death by suicide and drug overdose. Methodological considerations and avenues for potential research are discussed.
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Browning CR, Ford JL, Tarrence J, Kertes DA, Pickler RH, Way BM, Calder CA. Everyday perceptions of safety and racial disparities in hair cortisol concentration. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 153:106088. [PMID: 37058913 PMCID: PMC10905975 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Black-White disparities in physiological stress during adolescence are increasingly evident but remain incompletely understood. We examine the role of real-time perceptions of safety in the context of everyday routines to gain insight into the sources of observed adolescent racial differences in chronic stress as measured by hair cortisol concentration (HCC). METHOD We combined social survey, ecological momentary assessment (EMA), and hair cortisol data on 690 Black and White youth ages 11-17 from wave 1 of the Adolescent Health and Development in Context (AHDC) study to investigate racial differences in physiological stress. Individual-level, reliability-adjusted measures of perceived unsafety outside the home were drawn from a week-long smartphone-based EMA and tested for association with hair cortisol concentration. RESULTS We observed a statistically significant interaction (p < .05) between race and perceptions of unsafety. For Black youth, perceived unsafety was associated with higher HCC (p < .05). We observed no evidence of an association between perceptions of safety and expected HCC for White youth. For youth who perceive their out-of-home activity locations to be consistently safe, the racial difference in expected HCC was not statistically significant. At the high end of perceived unsafety, however, Black-White differences in HCC were pronounced (0.75 standard deviations at the 95th percentile on perceived unsafety; p < .001). DISCUSSION These findings call attention to the role of everyday perceptions of safety across non-home routine activity contexts in explaining race differences in chronic stress as assessed by hair cortisol concentrations. Future research may benefit from data on in situ experiences to capture disparities in psychological and physiological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jodi L Ford
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jake Tarrence
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Darlene A Kertes
- Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Rita H Pickler
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Baldwin M Way
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Catherine A Calder
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
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Rothe J, Buse J, Uhlmann A, Bodmer B, Kirschbaum C, Hoekstra PJ, Dietrich A, Roessner V. Hair Cortisol and Perceived Stress-Predictors for the Onset of Tics? A European Longitudinal Study on High-Risk Children. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1561. [PMID: 37371656 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Some retrospective studies suggest that psychosocial stressors trigger the onset of tics. This study examined prospective hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and perceived stress prior to tic onset. In the present study, 259 children at high risk for developing tics were assessed for hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and parent-on-child-reported perceived stress four-monthly over a three-year period. We used (i) generalised additive modelling (GAM) to investigate the time effects on HCC (hair samples n = 765) and perceived stress (questionnaires n = 1019) prior to tic onset and (ii) binary logistic regression to predict tic onset in a smaller subsample with at least three consecutive assessments (six to nine months before, two to five months before, and at tic onset). GAM results indicated a non-linear increasing course of HCC in children who developed tics, and a steady HCC course in those without tics, as well as a linear-increasing course of perceived stress in both groups. Logistic regression showed that with a higher HCC in hair samples collected in a range of two to five months before tic onset (which refers to cortisol exposure in a range of four to eight months), the relative likelihood of tic onset rose. Our study suggests increased stress prior to tic onset, as evidenced by higher HCC several months before tic onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Rothe
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Judith Buse
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anne Uhlmann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Benjamin Bodmer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Institute of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Pieter J Hoekstra
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Accare Child Study Center, 9723 HE Gronigen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Dietrich
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands
- Accare Child Study Center, 9723 HE Gronigen, The Netherlands
| | - Veit Roessner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
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Strike LT, Hansell NK, Chuang KH, Miller JL, de Zubicaray GI, Thompson PM, McMahon KL, Wright MJ. The Queensland Twin Adolescent Brain Project, a longitudinal study of adolescent brain development. Sci Data 2023; 10:195. [PMID: 37031232 PMCID: PMC10082846 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02038-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe the Queensland Twin Adolescent Brain (QTAB) dataset and provide a detailed methodology and technical validation to facilitate data usage. The QTAB dataset comprises multimodal neuroimaging, as well as cognitive and mental health data collected in adolescent twins over two sessions (session 1: N = 422, age 9-14 years; session 2: N = 304, 10-16 years). The MRI protocol consisted of T1-weighted (MP2RAGE), T2-weighted, FLAIR, high-resolution TSE, SWI, resting-state fMRI, DWI, and ASL scans. Two fMRI tasks were added in session 2: an emotional conflict task and a passive movie-watching task. Outside of the scanner, we assessed cognitive function using standardised tests. We also obtained self-reports of symptoms for anxiety and depression, perceived stress, sleepiness, pubertal development measures, and risk and protective factors. We additionally collected several biological samples for genomic and metagenomic analysis. The QTAB project was established to promote health-related research in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lachlan T Strike
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia.
- Psychiatric Genetics, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, QLD, 4006, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Narelle K Hansell
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kai-Hsiang Chuang
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Centre for Advanced Imaging, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jessica L Miller
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Greig I de Zubicaray
- School of Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD 4059, Australia
| | - Paul M Thompson
- Imaging Genetics Center, Mark & Mary Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging & Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Katie L McMahon
- School of Clinical Sciences, Centre for Biomedical Technologies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia
| | - Margaret J Wright
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Brain Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Centre for Advanced Imaging, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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12
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Ren SY, Sun ZL, Yang J. The use of biochemical indexes in hair for clinical studies of psychiatric diseases: What can we learn about mental disease from hair? J Psychiatr Res 2023; 158:305-313. [PMID: 36628872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Revised: 12/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Analysis of hair samples provides unique advantages, including non-invasive sampling, sample stability, and the possibility of additional optimization of high sensitivity detection methods. Hair sample analysis is often used in psychiatric disease research to evaluate previous periods of stress encountered by patients. Glucocorticoid analysis is the most frequently tested indicator of stress. Furthermore, the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis and endocannabinoid system also are involved in the occurrence and development of mental disorders. The endocannabinoid and sex hormone levels in patients experiencing mental illness are considerably different from levels observed in healthy individuals. Nevertheless, due to the different methods used to assess the degree of disease and the range of analytical methods involved in clinical research, the trends in changes for these biomarkers are not uniform. The correlations between changes in biomarker concentrations and illness severity also are not clear. The observed alterations suggest these biochemical substances in hair have potential as biomarkers for diagnosis or predictive treatment. However, the variable results obtained thus far could hamper further development of hair samples for clinical assessment in psychiatric disorders. This article summarizes the published reports documenting the changes in the content of relevant substances in hair in individuals experiencing mental illness and the degree of correlation. In the discussion section, we proposed several issues that should be considered in future studies of hair samples obtained from patients with mental disorders to promote the use of hair sample assessment as an aid in diagnosis or predictive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Ren
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zuo-Li Sun
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Yang
- The National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders & Beijing Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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13
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Mlili NE, Ahabrach H, Cauli O. Hair Cortisol Concentration as a Biomarker of Symptoms of Depression in the Perinatal Period. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2023; 22:71-83. [PMID: 35297354 DOI: 10.2174/1871527321666220316122605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy is a sensitive period when women experience major hormonal and psychological changes. A high prevalence of the symptoms of depression and manifested major depression rates have been reported during this period, leading to negative outcomes both for mothers and the offspring. Despite its prevalence, the aetiology of depression is not yet fully understood. Nonetheless, alterations in cortisol levels have been proposed as a reliable biomarker to identify pregnant women at risk of perinatal depression. Hair cortisol has recently been extensively used in bio-psychological studies as a suitable non-invasive biomarker for several neuropsychiatric disorders. Various studies have published evidence regarding the relationship between cortisol fluctuations during the perinatal period, measured both in hair and in other substrates, and the onset of perinatal symptoms of depression. This current review provides an overview of cortisol level changes measured in women's hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period and its association with perinatal symptoms of depression. Further studies, including repetitive measurement of both hair cortisol and depression throughout the prenatal period, must be performed to clarify the relationship between cortisol levels and perinatal symptoms of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisrin El Mlili
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Hanan Ahabrach
- Institut Supérieur des Professions Infirmières et Techniques de Santé (ISPITS), Tetouan, Morocco
- Department of Physiology and Physiopathology, Faculty of Sciences, University Abdelmalek Essâadi, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Omar Cauli
- Department of Nursing, University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
- Frailty and Cognitive Impairment Group (FROG), University of Valencia, Valencia 46010, Spain
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14
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Bates RA, Militello L, Barker E, Villasanti HG, Schmeer K. Early childhood stress responses to psychosocial stressors: The state of the science. Dev Psychobiol 2022; 64:e22320. [PMID: 36282746 PMCID: PMC9543576 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to better understand whether and to what extent psychosocial stressors are associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or autonomic nervous system stress responses in young children (1-6 years of age). Studies were classified by psychosocial stressors from the ecobiodevelopmental model: social and economic resources, maternal mental health, parent-child relationships, and the physical environment. Of the 2388 identified studies, 32 met full inclusion criteria, including over 9107 children. Child physiologic stress responses were measured as hair and urinary cortisol and cortisone, salivary diurnal and reactive cortisol, salivary reactive alpha-amylase, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. There were 107 identified relations between psychosocial stressors and physiologic stress responses. Nearly two thirds of these relations suggested that children have dysregulated stress responses as either significantly blunted (n = 27) or increased (n = 37); 43 relations were not significant. Children most consistently had significantly dysregulated stress responses if they experienced postnatal maternal depression or anxiety. Some reasons for the mixed findings may be related to characteristics of the child (i.e., moderators) or stressor, how the stress response or psychosocial stressor was measured, unmeasured variables (e.g., caregiving buffering), researcher degrees of freedom, or publication bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi A. Bates
- College of NursingUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Lisa Militello
- College of NursingThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Erin Barker
- College of NursingUniversity of CincinnatiCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Hugo Gonzalez Villasanti
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and PolicyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of Educational Studies, College of Education and Human EcologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
| | - Kammi Schmeer
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and PolicyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
- Department of SociologyThe Ohio State UniversityColumbusOhioUSA
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15
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Raymond C, Bilodeau-Houle A, Zerroug Y, Provencher J, Beaudin M, Marin MF. Pre-pandemic socio-emotional vulnerability, internalizing and externalizing symptoms predict changes in hair cortisol concentrations in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic in children. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 144:105888. [PMID: 35933864 PMCID: PMC9344696 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased distress in many children, particularly in girls. Socio-emotional vulnerability, as well as psychiatric symptomatology prior to or during the initial stages of the pandemic, have been identified as important predictors of this distress. Still, it is unclear whether the pandemic also had physiological repercussions in children. If so, it remains to be determined whether these same predictors could provide insight into inter-individual variability. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the effects of socio-emotional vulnerability, as well as pre-pandemic internalizing and externalizing symptoms, on hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in healthy youth. In June 2020 (T1), 69 healthy children (M = 11.57 y/o) who visited the laboratory between 2017 and 2019 (T0) provided a 6 cm hair sample. This technique allowed us to quantify cortisol secretion during the three months preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (Segment A) and during the first three months of the first wave of the pandemic in Quebec, Canada (Segment B). At T0, participants completed the Dominic Interactive to assess pre-pandemic internalizing and externalizing symptoms. A socio-emotional composite score (SECS) was derived using a weighted z-score with the following constructs: anxiety sensitivity (Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index) measured at T0, trait anxiety (Trait subscale of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C)), intolerance of uncertainty (Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children), and trait rumination (Children's Response Style Scale) measured at T1. A linear regression was conducted using the percent change in HCC across Segment A and B as the dependent variable, where SECS, pre-pandemic internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and sex were used as predictors. We found a main effect of sex, with girls presenting increased HCC reactivity compared to boys. We also found that SECS and internalizing symptoms negatively predicted HCC, whereas the opposite relationship was found between externalizing symptoms and HCC reactivity. For healthy children, our results suggest that previous psychiatric symptoms and socio-emotional vulnerability may be risk factors for the presentation of diverging cortisol response patterns in response to an adverse life event (such as the COVID-19 pandemic).
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Raymond
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alexe Bilodeau-Houle
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Yasmine Zerroug
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jessie Provencher
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Myriam Beaudin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada,Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-France Marin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada; Research Centre of the Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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16
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Whitney S, Bedard C, Mielke J, Browne DT, Ferro MA. Do subjective and objective measures of stress agree in a clinical sample of youth and their parents? COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 11:100155. [PMID: 35864882 PMCID: PMC9294048 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
This study explored agreement and potential relationships among perceived stress (self-reported using the Perceived Stress Scale), hair cortisol concentration (HCC), and mental disorders in a clinical sample of youth and their parents. Data were collected from a cross-sectional sample of 48 youth (38 females; mean age = 15.6 years) with a mental disorder and 72 parents (65 females; mean age = 45.49 years). Agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients. Multiple regression was used to model the association between covariates and HCC and perceived stress for youth and parents. Agreement between perceived stress and HCC was low for both youth and parents (ICC = 0.15 to 0.31). Among youth, lower income (β = 0.24) and parent psychopathology (β = 0.42) were associated with higher HCC. Female sex (β = 0.42) and higher parent psychopathology (β = 0.28) were associated with higher perceived stress, whereas chronic physical illness was associated with lower perceived stress (β = -0.24). Among parents, female sex (β = -0.21) was associated with lower HCC and family functioning (β = 0.46) was associated with higher perceived stress. In youth, higher HCC was associated with generalized anxiety (OR = 1.14) and higher perceived stress was associated with major depressive episode (OR = 1.33), generalized anxiety (OR = 1.10), and separation anxiety (OR = 1.14). Among parents, higher HCC was associated with depression (β = 0.27) and perceived stress was associated with depression (β = 0.53) and anxiety (β = 0.45). This exploratory study shows that agreement between psychological and physiological stress is low in a clinical sample of youth and their parents. Sociodemographic and psychosocial factors, and mental health, are differentially associated with psychological and physiological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Whitney
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Chloe Bedard
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada
| | - John Mielke
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Dillon T. Browne
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada
| | - Mark A. Ferro
- School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L3G1, Canada
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17
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Guo X, Qin H, Jiang K, Luo L. Parent-Child Discrepancy in Educational Aspirations and Depressive Symptoms in Early Adolescence: A Longitudinal Study. J Youth Adolesc 2022; 51:1983-1996. [PMID: 35751718 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-022-01644-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Adolescents may have educational aspirations that are different from their parents' educational aspirations for them, and such discrepancy may affect adolescents' psychological adjustment. This longitudinal study examined how parent-child discrepancy in educational aspirations relate to depressive symptoms in early adolescents, both concurrently and prospectively, when controlling for parents' depressive symptoms. Moreover, parent and child gender differences in the effects were explored. Data were collected from 3799 students (52.0% boys; Mage = 10.78) and their fathers and mothers when the students were in fifth and seventh grade over 2 years. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis was used to analyze the effects of parent-child aspiration discrepancy on depressive symptoms separately in four parent-child gender dyads. Cross-sectional results demonstrated that for all parent-child gender dyads, congruently higher aspirations were related to lower depressive symptoms, and greater incongruence in aspirations was related to higher depressive symptoms. Moreover, for parent-son dyads, adolescents whose aspirations were lower than those of their parents reported higher depressive symptoms than adolescents whose aspirations were higher than those of their parents. However, longitudinal results further showed that, for father-son dyads only, congruently higher aspirations were related to increased depressive symptoms over time, while for parent-daughter dyads only, greater incongruence in aspirations was related to increased depressive symptoms over time. The findings support the importance of considering parent-child discrepancy when exploring the role of educational aspirations in adolescents' psychological adjustment and call for a more detailed and rigorous analysis and interpretation of this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Guo
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China
| | - Huan Qin
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China
| | - Kexin Jiang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China
| | - Liang Luo
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment toward Basic Education Quality, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China. .,Institute of Developmental Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekouwai St, Haidian District, Beijing, 100875, P.R. China.
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18
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Hagan M, Coccia M, Rivera L, Epel E, Aschbacher K, Laudenslager M, Lieberman A, Bush NR. Longitudinal hair cortisol in low-income young children: A useful biomarker of behavioral symptom change? Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105389. [PMID: 34403872 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Early childhood is a developmental period characterized by significant plasticity, heterogeneity in behaviors and biological functioning. Yet, cumulative cortisol secretion, as measured by hair cortisol, has not been examined longitudinally in relation to change in behavioral problems in young children. The current study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between hair cortisol and changes in behavior problems in a combined sample (N = 88) of two groups of young children from low-income families: 1) A trauma-exposed sample that participated in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) (n = 43; Mean Age = 4.31, SD = 1.16; 53% Female; 77% Hispanic), and 2) A community sample of children from families experiencing high stress (n = 45; Mean Age = 3.20, SD = 0.29; 67% Female; 58% Hispanic). Cortisol was assayed from hair collected from children at baseline and, on average, one year later. Mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist at the same time hair samples were collected. Baseline hair cortisol in children was not associated with maternally-reported child behavioral problems at baseline and did not predict change in behavior problems over time. In contrast, increases in cortisol were associated with greater improvement in child behavior problems (b = -2.98, p < 0.05), controlling for group status and relevant covariates. Subgroup analyses showed that cortisol change across one year significantly differed between the two groups (p = 0.043): on average, community children exhibited a decrease, whereas CPP children demonstrated no change. Hair cortisol concentration was similarly related to improvements in mother-reported behavior problems across both CPP and community groups over time. In summary, there were no cross-sectional associations with hair cortisol, whereas increases were associated with improved child well-being. Findings demonstrate an important link between this increasingly common biomarker and child health, but suggest that changes over time may be more informative than cross-sectional associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Hagan
- San Francisco State University, Department of Psychology, 1600 Holloway Avenue, EP239, San Francisco, CA 94132, United States; University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States.
| | - Michael Coccia
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
| | - Luisa Rivera
- Emory University, Department of Anthropology, United Stataes
| | - Elissa Epel
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
| | - Kirstin Aschbacher
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
| | - Mark Laudenslager
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, United States
| | - Alicia Lieberman
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
| | - Nicole R Bush
- University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States; University of California, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Medicine, San Francisco, United States
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19
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Ford JL, Browning CR, Boch SJ, Kertes DA, Tarrence J, Way BM, Schmeer KK. Racial and Economic Adversity Differences in Stress Markers and Immune Function Among Urban Adolescents. Nurs Res 2021; 70:S31-S42. [PMID: 34173379 PMCID: PMC8515952 DOI: 10.1097/nnr.0000000000000527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to racism and associated adversities, such as poverty, is hypothesized to contribute to racial inequities in health via stress and immune pathways. Furthermore, the effects of adversity may be more salient during sensitive developmental periods. Our study examined racial differences in stress and immune biomarkers during adolescence and the effects of exposure to economic adversity at distinct developmental time periods and cumulatively in accounting for potential racial differences. METHODS Secondary analysis of the Adolescent Health and Development in Context study was conducted. Data were derived from self-administered surveys; interviews; smartphone-based, geographic-explicit ecological momentary assessment; stress biomarkers (evening salivary cortisol over six nights and hair cortisol); and immune biomarkers (salivary shedding of Epstein-Barr virus [EBV] DNA among EBV-positive adolescents). Current socioeconomic status measures included annual household income and caregiver education. Caregivers also reported experiences of bankruptcy, difficulty paying bills, receipt of food stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/electronic benefit transfer, and job loss when the child was of ages birth-5 years, 6-10 years, and 11 years or older. An affirmative response to any item was defined as exposure to economic adversity for that developmental time period (yes/no). A cumulative economic adversity measure was calculated as the sum of exposures across developmental periods (0 = never exposed to 3 = exposed across all time periods). Descriptive and multivariable regression analyses were conducted, accounting for covariates. RESULTS Black/African American adolescents had higher salivary cortisol concentration, higher hair cortisol concentration, and an increased odd of salivary shedding of EBV DNA compared to White adolescents. Racial differences were not attenuated by the current socioeconomic status or economic adversity (developmental period or cumulatively). DISCUSSION Our study provides evidence that stress and immune biomarkers differ by race as early as adolescence and may be one pathway through which racism and associated adversities contribute to racial health inequities. Further research on the contribution of multiple adversities beyond poverty to racial inequities in physiological stress and health is critical for informing effective prevention and intervention efforts.
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20
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Bates RA, Ford JL, Jiang H, Pickler R, Justice LM, Dynia JM, Ssekayombya P. Sociodemographics and chronic stress in mother-toddler dyads living in poverty. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22179. [PMID: 34423424 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Experiencing chronic stress early in life is associated with later health disparities, and poverty may be a significant stressor for both mothers and children. With a sample of primarily Black and White mothers (N = 75) and toddlers (N = 71) living in poverty in the United States, we examined the direct relations between sociodemographic conditions of poverty and chronic physiological stress. Mothers completed questionnaires on sociodemographics, including mother/toddler race, mother's education, father's education, poverty level, economic hardship, marital status, unemployment status, and toddler sex. Physiological chronic stress was measured by assaying the cortisol content of 4 cm samples of hair cut from the posterior vertex of mothers and toddlers (20-24 months of age) to represent 4 months of stress. Mothers' and toddlers' chronic stress was significantly, moderately, and positively associated. Toddlers had a trending relationship of moderately higher chronic stress if they were Black compared to not Black. Mothers had significantly, moderately higher chronic stress if they were Black or had a Black toddler (compared to not Black), not married (compared to married), or were working (compared to not working). The findings suggest that these mothers, simultaneously navigating poverty and parenting a toddler, need resources to reduce chronic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randi A Bates
- College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jodi L Ford
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Hui Jiang
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rita Pickler
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Laura M Justice
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Jaclyn M Dynia
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Prosper Ssekayombya
- Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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21
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Kische H, Ollmann TM, Voss C, Hoyer J, Rückert F, Pieper L, Kirschbaum C, Beesdo-Baum K. Associations of saliva cortisol and hair cortisol with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and major depressive disorder: An epidemiological cohort study in adolescents and young adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 126:105167. [PMID: 33592366 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Most of the observed associations of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (SAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) with cortisol concentrations came from clinical and adult study samples, with inconsistent findings, partly due to method variance. We examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between GAD, SAD and MDD with saliva and hair cortisol as well as hair cortisol change in a population-based sample of adolescents and young adults, considering relevant co-factors. DESIGN Epidemiological cohort study in Dresden, Germany. Data of 1050 individuals (mean age: 17.2 years) assessed at baseline (11/2015-12/2016) and of 605 individuals assessed at 1-year follow-up (FU1) are used. METHODS Multivariable regression models were implemented to assess cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of DSM-5 defined 12-month diagnoses of GAD, SAD, and MDD, with short-term (saliva cortisol: cortisol awakening response (CAR) and area under the curve (AUC) as total cortisol) and long-term (hair cortisol) cortisol indices. Multivariable models were adjusted for age or "tanner" stage, waist circumference, tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and hair cortisol dependent confounder. Sex-specific analyses were additionally conducted. RESULTS Cross-sectional analyses revealed positive associations between SAD and baseline saliva cortisol in multivariable models (CAR: β-coefficient: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01; 0.23) but could not be confirmed after adjusting for "tanner" stage or comorbid depression. Cross-sectional analyses concerning GAD and MDD in the full baseline sample yielded no significant associations. Sex-specific linear models revealed a significant inverse cross-sectional association between MDD (β-coefficient: - 2.21; 95% CI: - 3.64; - 0.79) as well as SAD (β-coefficient: - 2.21; 95% CI: - 4.03; - 0.38) with baseline hair cortisol in males, but not in females. In longitudinal analyses, no significant associations were found in the fully adjusted model, except for a positive association between hair cortisol change between baseline and FU1 and FU1-SAD (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02; 1.12). CONCLUSIONS Results confirmed sex-specificity and the role of pubertal development in the association between cortisol with SAD and MDD, while no association emerged regarding cortisol and GAD. Future research in adolescents focusing on the role of cortisol in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depressive disorders would benefit from considering factors like sex-specificity and puberty development as well as comorbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Kische
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Theresa Magdalena Ollmann
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Catharina Voss
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jana Hoyer
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Centre for Obesity, Städtisches Klinikum Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Frank Rückert
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lars Pieper
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Biopsychology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Katja Beesdo-Baum
- Behavioral Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies (CELOS), Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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22
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Browning CR, Tarrence J, LaPlant E, Boettner B, Schmeer KK, Calder CA, Way BM, Ford JL. Exposure to police-related deaths and physiological stress among urban black youth. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 125:104884. [PMID: 33453595 PMCID: PMC7904570 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence indicates that exposure to police-related deaths is associated with negative health and wellbeing outcomes among black people. Yet, no study to date has directly examined the biological consequences of exposure to police-related deaths for urban black youth. METHODS AND FINDINGS We employ unique data from the 2014-16 Adolescent Health and Development in Context (AHDC) study - a representative sample of youth ages 11 to 17 residing in the Columbus, OH area. A subsample of participants contributed nightly saliva samples for cortisol for up to six days, providing an opportunity to link recent exposures to police-related deaths within the residential county to physiological stress outcomes during the study period (N = 585). We examine the effect of exposure to a recent police-related death in the same county on the physiological stress (nightly cortisol) levels of black youth. We find evidence of elevated average levels of nightly cortisol (by 46%) for black boys exposed to a police-related death of a black victim in the 30 days prior to the subject's cortisol collection. We find no evidence of police-related death effects on the physiological stress levels of black girls or white youth. CONCLUSIONS These analyses indicate that police-related deaths influence the biological functioning of black boys, with potential negative consequences for health. We consider the implications of exposure to lethal police violence among black boys for understanding racial disparities in health more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jake Tarrence
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Eric LaPlant
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bethany Boettner
- Institute for Population Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kammi K Schmeer
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Catherine A Calder
- Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Baldwin M Way
- Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jodi L Ford
- College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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23
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Hayes B, Brent J, Zhong Y, Bazmi S, Porta G, Bovbjerg DH, Tarhini A, Kirkwood JM, Brent DA, Marsland A, Melhem NM. Early Cortisol and Inflammatory Responses to Parental Cancer and Their Impact on Functional Impairment in Youth. J Clin Med 2021; 10:576. [PMID: 33557083 PMCID: PMC7913784 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Chronic stress is associated with increased risk for maladaptive psychological responses during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Adults exposed to chronic stress during childhood exhibit dysregulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and inflammation. There are no studies examining the impact of stress on biological stress responses and functional impairment in adolescents and young adults early after the onset of a stressor. METHODS The sample consisted of 59 offspring, aged 11-25 years, 33 of parents diagnosed with cancer and 26 controls from families with no cancer or severe chronic illness in parents or siblings. Cancer patients and their families were recruited within an average of 62 days (SD = 35.9) and followed at 6 and 9 months later. Functional impairment was assessed and hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), salivary cortisol, and inflammatory markers were measured. Mixed regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS The stress group showed higher functional impairment (β = -5.5, 95% CI (-10.4, -0.06), p = 0.03, d= -0.40) and HCC (β = 10.5, 95% CI (-5.5, -0.50), p < 0.001, d = 1.43). However, HCC were reduced over time in the stress group (β= -0.3, 95% CI (-0.04, -0.01), p < 0.001, d = -1.08). Higher total cortisol output was associated with increased functional impairment over time (β = -3.0, 95% CI (-5.5, -0.5), p = 0.02, d = -0.60). CONCLUSIONS Parental cancer is associated with early increase in cortisol, which was associated with increased functional impairment in offspring. Clinicians need to assess and monitor psychiatric symptoms and functioning in these offspring early on following parental cancer diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hayes
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Jacob Brent
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (J.B.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Yongqi Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 130 De Soto St, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
| | - Shervin Bazmi
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Giovanna Porta
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), 100 N Bellefield Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA;
| | - Dana H. Bovbjerg
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5150 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (D.H.B.); (A.T.); (J.M.K.)
| | - Ahmad Tarhini
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5150 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (D.H.B.); (A.T.); (J.M.K.)
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, 5150 Centre Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (D.H.B.); (A.T.); (J.M.K.)
| | - David A. Brent
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (J.B.); (D.A.B.)
| | - Anna Marsland
- Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, 210 South Bouquet Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA; (S.B.); (A.M.)
| | - Nadine M. Melhem
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3550 Terrace St, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (J.B.); (D.A.B.)
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