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Isenhour J, Speck B, Conradt E, Crowell SE, Raby KL. Examining the implications of contextual stress and maternal sensitivity for infants' cortisol responses to the still face paradigm. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 166:107059. [PMID: 38692096 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107059] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Infants' hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis responses to acute stressors are theorized to be shaped by parents' sensitive responsiveness to infants' cues. The strength and direction of the association between maternal sensitivity and infants' HPA responses may depend on the context in which maternal sensitivity is observed and on broader environmental sources of stress and support. In this preregistered study, we used data from 105 mothers and their 7-month-old infants to examine whether two empirically identified forms of contextual stress-poor maternal psychosocial wellbeing and family socioeconomic hardship-moderate the association between maternal sensitivity and infants' cortisol responses to the Still-Face Paradigm (SFP). Results indicated that maternal sensitivity during the free play and family socioeconomic hardship interacted to predict infants' cortisol responses to the SFP. Specifically, maternal sensitivity during this non-distressing interaction was negatively associated with cortisol responses only among infants whose mothers were experiencing relatively high socioeconomic hardship. Exploratory analyses revealed that poor maternal psychosocial wellbeing was positively associated with overall infant cortisol production during the SFP. Altogether, these findings suggest that experiences within early parent-infant attachment relationships and sources of contextual stress work together to shape infant HPA axis activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bailey Speck
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, USA
| | - Elisabeth Conradt
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, USA
| | | | - K Lee Raby
- Department of Psychology, University of Utah, USA.
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2
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Peoples SG, Davis EL, Brooker RJ. Variation in coupling across neural and cardiac systems of regulation is linked to markers of anxiety risk in preschool. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38487916 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000609] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Both cortical and parasympathetic systems are believed to regulate emotional arousal in the service of healthy development. Systemic coordination, or coupling, between putative regulatory functions begins in early childhood. Yet the degree of coupling between cortical and parasympathetic systems in young children remains unclear, particularly in relation to the development of typical or atypical emotion function. We tested whether cortical (ERN) and parasympathetic (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) markers of regulation were coupled during cognitive challenge in preschoolers (N = 121). We found no main effect of RSA predicting ERN. We then tested children's typical and atypical emotion behavior (context-appropriate/context-inappropriate fear, anxiety symptoms, neuroendocrine reactivity) as moderators of early coupling in an effort to link patterns of coupling to adaptive emotional development. Negative coupling (i.e., smaller ERN, more RSA suppression or larger ERN, less RSA suppression) at age 3 was associated with greater atypical and less typical emotion behaviors, indicative of greater risk. Negative age 3 coupling was also visible for children who had greater Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms and blunted cortisol reactivity at age 5. Results suggest that negative coupling may reflect a maladaptive pattern across regulatory systems that is identifiable during the preschool years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah G Peoples
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Davis
- Department of Psychology, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca J Brooker
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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3
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Iimura S, Takasugi S, Yasuda M, Saito Y, Morifuji M. Interactions between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota are associated with biomarkers of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. J Affect Disord 2023; 339:136-144. [PMID: 37437719 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.016] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans vary in their sensitivity to stressful and supportive environments and experiences. Such individual differences in environmental sensitivity are associated with mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms. In recent years, researchers have focused on bidirectional interactions in the brain-gut-microbiota axis as a neurophysiological pathway contributing to the mechanisms of stress-related psychiatric symptoms, and evidence is rapidly accumulating. METHODS Data on environmental sensitivity, gut microbiota, gut permeability (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein; LBP) and inflammation (C-reactive protein; CRP) were collected from 90 adults (50 % female; Mage = 42.1; SDage = 10.0). Environmental sensitivity was measured using a self-report questionnaire. Study participants' feces were analyzed, and observed operational taxonomic units for richness, Shannon's index for evenness, and phylogenetic diversity for biodiversity were evaluated as indicators of gut microbiota. In addition, participants' serum was analyzed for CRP and LBP. We investigated whether the interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota is associated with biomarkers of inflammation and gut permeability. RESULTS The interaction between environmental sensitivity and gut microbiota (excluding the Shannon's index) explained the levels of these biomarkers. Individuals with high environmental sensitivity displayed higher levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was low. However, even highly susceptible individuals had lower levels of CRP and LBP, when the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota was high. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates that high environmental sensitivity can be a risk factor for inflammation and gut permeability, when the gut microbiota diversity is low, suggesting a brain-gut-microbiota axis interaction.
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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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5
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Schwartz JA, Calvi JL, Allen SL, Granger DA. Adrenocortical Responses to Daily Stressors Are Calibrated by Early Life Adversity: An Investigation of the Adaptive Calibration Model. EVOLUTIONARY PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 21:14747049231212357. [PMID: 37964553 PMCID: PMC10647968 DOI: 10.1177/14747049231212357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies examining the impact of early adversity on physiological responsivity to environmental challenges in later life yield a complex pattern of findings and ambiguity regarding the direction of effect, with some studies reporting heightened responses and others reporting dampened responses. One potential reason for these mixed findings is an oversimplified theoretical model surrounding the connection between early life stressor exposure and subsequent stress responsivity. The adaptive calibration model offersa contemporary set of assumptions aimed at providing a better understanding of the ways that early life experiences shape the stress response system to better align with current and future environments. The current study utilized a large subsample from the National Study of Daily Experiences (N = 1,605) to examine the extent to which the association between daily stressor exposure and cortisol levels varies across levels of early life adversity. Results revealed that those individuals who experienced extremely low levels of early life adversity displayed the greatest increase in cortisol levels across the day as daily stressor exposure increased. Alternatively, those individuals who experienced extremely high levels of early life adversity displayed almost no change in diurnal production of cortisol as daily stressor exposure increased. The results are discussed within the evolutionary-developmental context of the adaptive calibration model along with suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. Schwartz
- College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Jessica L. Calvi
- Nebraska Athletic Performance Laboratory, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Samantha L. Allen
- College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- School of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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6
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Stapp EK, Fullerton JM, Musci RJ, Zandi PP, McInnis MG, Mitchell PB, Hulvershorn LA, Ghaziuddin N, Roberts G, Ferrera AG, Nurnberger JI, Wilcox HC. Family environment and polygenic risk in the bipolar high-risk context. JCPP ADVANCES 2023; 3:e12143. [PMID: 37378048 PMCID: PMC10292829 DOI: 10.1002/jcv2.12143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The interaction of polygenic risk (PRS) and environmental effects on development of bipolar disorder (BD) is understudied, as are high-risk offspring perceptions of their family environment (FE). We tested the association of offspring-perceived FE in interaction with BD-PRS on liability for BD in offspring at high or low familial risk for BD. Methods Offspring of a parent with BD (oBD; n = 266) or no psychiatric disorders (n = 174), aged 12-21 at recruitment, participated in the US and Australia. Empirically-derived profiles of FE classified offspring by their perceived levels of familial cohesion, flexibility, and conflict. Offspring BD-PRS were derived from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium BD-GWAS. Lifetime DSM-IV bipolar disorders were derived from the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children. We used a novel stepwise approach for latent class modeling with predictors and distal outcomes. Results Fifty-two offspring were diagnosed with BD. For those with well-functioning FE (two-thirds of the sample), higher BD-PRS tracked positively with liability for BD. However, for those with high-conflict FEs, the relationship between BD-PRS and liability to BD was negative, with highest risk for BD observed with lower BD-PRS. In exploratory analyses, European-ancestry offspring with BD had elevated history of suicidal ideation in high-conflict FE compared to well-functioning-FE, and of suicide attempt with low-BD-PRS and high-conflict FE. Conclusions The data suggest that the relationship of BD-PRS and offspring liability for BD differed between well-functioning versus high-conflict FE, potentially in line with a multifactorial liability threshold model and supporting future study of and interventions improving family dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K. Stapp
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
- Genetic Epidemiology BranchNational Institute of Mental HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Janice M. Fullerton
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Medical SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Rashelle J. Musci
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Peter P. Zandi
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | | | - Philip B. Mitchell
- School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Neera Ghaziuddin
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of MichiganAnn ArborMichiganUSA
| | - Gloria Roberts
- School of PsychiatryUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - John I. Nurnberger
- Department of PsychiatryIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Medical and Molecular GeneticsIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Stark Neurosciences Research InstituteIndiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Holly C. Wilcox
- Department of Mental HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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Slavich GM, Roos LG, Mengelkoch S, Webb CA, Shattuck EC, Moriarity DP, Alley JC. Social Safety Theory: Conceptual foundation, underlying mechanisms, and future directions. Health Psychol Rev 2023; 17:5-59. [PMID: 36718584 PMCID: PMC10161928 DOI: 10.1080/17437199.2023.2171900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Classic theories of stress and health are largely based on assumptions regarding how different psychosocial stressors influence biological processes that, in turn, affect human health and behavior. Although theoretically rich, this work has yielded little consensus and led to numerous conceptual, measurement, and reproducibility issues. Social Safety Theory aims to address these issues by using the primary goal and regulatory logic of the human brain and immune system as the basis for specifying the social-environmental situations to which these systems should respond most strongly to maximize reproductive success and survival. This analysis gave rise to the integrated, multi-level formulation described herein, which transforms thinking about stress biology and provides a biologically based, evolutionary account for how and why experiences of social safety and social threat are strongly related to health, well-being, aging, and longevity. In doing so, the theory advances a testable framework for investigating the biopsychosocial roots of health disparities as well as how health-relevant biopsychosocial processes crystalize over time and how perceptions of the social environment interact with childhood microbial environment, birth cohort, culture, air pollution, genetics, sleep, diet, personality, and self-harm to affect health. The theory also highlights several interventions for reducing social threat and promoting resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- George M. Slavich
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Lydia G. Roos
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Summer Mengelkoch
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christian A. Webb
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eric C. Shattuck
- Institute for Health Disparities Research and Department of Public Health, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Daniel P. Moriarity
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jenna C. Alley
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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de la Rosa R, Zablotny D, Ye M, Bush NR, Hessler D, Koita K, Bucci M, Long D, Thakur N. Biological Burden of Adverse Childhood Experiences in Children. Psychosom Med 2023; 85:108-117. [PMID: 36728584 PMCID: PMC9930178 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine relationships between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and related life events and allostatic load (AL)-"wear and tear" from chronic stress-in a pediatric population. METHODS Children were screened with the PEdiatric ACEs and Related Life Event Screener (PEARLS) tool, a 17-item questionnaire capturing experiences of abuse, neglect, household challenges, and related life events. Biological data were available for 207 participants, and AL was operationalized using clinical or empirical cutoff points across 4 physiological systems (i.e., cardiac, metabolic, inflammatory, neurologic). Covariate-adjusted multivariable regression models were used to examine associations between AL with adversity and health. RESULTS Children (mean age = 6.5 years, range = 1-11 years) had an average AL score of 1.9 (standard deviation = 1.7), and a U-shaped relationship was observed with child's age. Continuous PEARLS and original ACE scores were not associated with AL. However, children with a reported PEARLS score of 1 to 2 or original ACEs score of 1 to 3 had 1.5 (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-2.08) and 1.4 (IRR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.08-1.84) times greater AL, respectively, compared with participants with none reported. In secondary analyses, caregiver mental illness was associated with higher child AL (adjusted IRR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.01-1.58). AL was also associated with poorer perceived child general health (adjusted β = -0.87, 95% CI = -1.58 to -0.15) and greater odds of child obesity (adjusted odds ratio = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.23-1.89). CONCLUSIONS Measuring AL in a pediatric population requires careful consideration of age. Higher AL was associated with a greater number of reported adversities and worse child health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemarie de la Rosa
- From the Department of Medicine (de la Rosa, Zablotny, Ye, Thakur), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco; School of Public Health (de la Rosa), University of California Berkeley, Berkeley; Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science (Bush) and Pediatrics (Bush and Long) and Family and Community Medicine (Hessler), University of California San Francisco, San Francisco; UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland (Long), Oakland; Center for Youth Wellness (Koita, Bucci), San Francisco, California
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9
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Ecological validity of social defeat stressors in mouse models of vulnerability and resilience. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 145:105032. [PMID: 36608919 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105032] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory mouse models offer opportunities to bridge the gap between basic neuroscience and applied stress research. Here we consider the ecological validity of social defeat stressors in mouse models of emotional vulnerability and resilience. Reports identified in PubMed from 1980 to 2020 are reviewed for the ecological validity of social defeat stressors, sex of subjects, and whether results are discussed in terms of vulnerability alone, resilience alone, or both vulnerability and resilience. Most of the 318 reviewed reports (95%) focus on males, and many reports (71%) discuss vulnerability and resilience. Limited ecological validity is associated with increased vulnerability and decreased resilience. Elements of limited ecological validity include frequent and repeated exposure to defeat stressors without opportunities to avoid or escape from unfamiliar conspecifics that are pre-screened and selected for aggressive behavior. These elements ensure defeat and may be required to induce vulnerability, but they are not representative of naturalistic conditions. Research aimed at establishing causality is needed to determine whether ecologically valid stressors build resilience in both sexes of mice.
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Biological sensitivity to context as a dyadic construct: An investigation of child-parent RSA synchrony among low-SES youth. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:95-108. [PMID: 36914289 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942100078x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Parenting behaviors are significantly linked to youths' behavioral adjustment, an association that is moderated by youths' and parents' self-regulation. The biological sensitivity to context theory suggests that respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) indexes youths' varying susceptibility to rearing contexts. However, self-regulation in the family context is increasingly viewed as a process of "coregulation" that is biologically embedded and involves dynamic Parent×Child interactions. No research thus far has examined physiological synchrony as a dyadic biological context that may moderate associations between parenting behaviors and preadolescent adjustment. Using a two-wave sample of 101 low-socioeconomic status (SES) families (children and caretakers; mean age 10.28 years), we employed multilevel modeling to examine dyadic coregulation during a conflict task, indicated by RSA synchrony, as a moderator of the linkages between observed parenting behaviors and preadolescents' internalizing and externalizing problems. Results showed that high dyadic RSA synchrony resulted in a multiplicative association between parenting and youth adjustment. High dyadic synchrony intensified the relations between parenting behaviors and youth behavior problems, such that in the context of high dyadic synchrony, positive and negative parenting behaviors were associated with decreased and increased behavioral problems, respectively. Parent-child dyadic RSA synchrony is discussed as a potential biomarker of biological sensitivity in youth.
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Alley J. Considering Evolutionary Developmental Theory in the Developmental Model of the Sexual Minority Closet. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023:10.1007/s10508-022-02512-3. [PMID: 36624328 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02512-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Alley
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, UCLA, 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300 Room 313, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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12
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Ostrov JM, Murray-Close D, Perry KJ, Perhamus GR, Memba GV, Rice DR, Nowalis S. Parenting and Adjustment Problems among Preschoolers during COVID-19. JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES 2022; 32:93-109. [PMID: 36157198 PMCID: PMC9488881 DOI: 10.1007/s10826-022-02439-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
A critical area of developmental science explores factors that confer risk or protection as young children and their families experience stressful circumstances related to sociohistorical events. This study contributes to this important area by assessing relations between family context and child adjustment as children transitioned from preschool to home learning during COVID-19, and whether children higher in stress levels, indexed by morning basal cortisol, were more strongly affected. Parents of 74 children (M age = 53.56 months, SD age = 3.68 months) completed reports spanning the home learning transition; children's pre-COVID-19 transition salivary cortisol levels were assessed. Path analyses were used to test the preregistered study aims. Significant interactions were decomposed using simple slopes and Preacher's Regions of Significance (ROS) method. Across the COVID-19 transition to home-based school, children with higher morning basal cortisol experienced the sharpest increase in anger when exposed to harsh/inconsistent parenting contexts. Importantly, these effects held when controlling for household chaos, socioeconomic resources, and supportive parenting. Parallel models with supportive parenting were also tested and are discussed. This study is one of the first to test and provide support for biological sensitivity to context theory within the context of a natural experiment like COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie M. Ostrov
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
| | - Dianna Murray-Close
- Department of Psychological Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT USA
| | - Kristin J. Perry
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
| | - Gretchen R. Perhamus
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
| | - Gabriela V. Memba
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
| | - Danielle R. Rice
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
| | - Sarah Nowalis
- Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260 USA
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13
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Iimura S, Takasugi S. Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Japanese Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:9893. [PMID: 36011526 PMCID: PMC9408471 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19169893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory processing sensitivity is a personality or temperamental trait defined as individual differences in the tendency to perceive and process both positive and negative stimuli and experiences. Studies have shown that high sensitivity is correlated with psychosocial health, including depression and anxiety. However, its relationship with physical health has not been clarified. To fill this gap, using a large sample size with sufficient statistical power, an adult sample not including university students, and a range of covariates, this study examined the association between gastrointestinal symptoms as an indicator of physical health and sensory processing sensitivity. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, the participants were 863 Japanese adults (female = 450; male = 413; Mage = 30.4 years; SD = 4.9) who completed a web-based questionnaire. We statistically controlled for sociodemographic characteristics and examined whether sensory processing sensitivity is correlated with gastrointestinal symptoms. RESULTS The results showed that highly sensitive individuals were more likely to experience a wide range of gastrointestinal symptoms in the past week, including reflux symptoms, abdominal pain, indigestion symptoms, diarrhea symptoms, and constipation symptoms, even when statistically controlling for the participants' sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that high sensory processing sensitivity is associated with physical health. Some of the potential causes of this are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Iimura
- Soka University, 1-236 Tangi-machi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-8577, Japan
| | - Satoshi Takasugi
- R&D Division, Meiji Co., Ltd., 1-29-1 Nanakuni, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0919, Japan
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14
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Alen NV, Shields GS, Nemer A, D'Souza IA, Ohlgart MJ, Hostinar CE. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between parenting and child autonomic nervous system activity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2022; 139:104734. [PMID: 35716874 PMCID: PMC11023739 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Parental socialization may influence the development of children's autonomic nervous system (ANS), a key stress-response system. However, to date no quantitative synthesis of the literature linking parenting and child ANS physiology has been conducted. To address this gap, we conducted a pre-registered meta-analysis. A systematic review of the literature identified 103 studies (n = 13,044 participants) with available effect sizes describing the association between parenting and either parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) or sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in children. The overall analysis revealed non-significant associations between parenting and child ANS physiology on average. However, moderation analyses revealed a positive association between more positive parenting and higher resting PNS activity that was stronger when a study was experimental rather than correlational, and when the sample included children with a clinical condition. In conclusion, well-controlled experimental studies show that positive parenting is associated with the development of higher resting PNS activity, an effect that may be stronger among children who are at elevated developmental risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas V Alen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, USA; Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, University of Trier, Germany
| | - Grant S Shields
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, USA; Department of Psychological Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Adele Nemer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, USA
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15
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Baryła-Matejczuk M, Kata G, Poleszak W. Environmental sensitivity in young adolescents: The identification of sensitivity groups in a Polish sample. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0271571. [PMID: 35862375 PMCID: PMC9302757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The research described herein is based on the assumptions of the sensory processing sensitivity concept and the meta framework for the concept of environmental sensitivity. The adopted theoretical framework shows that individuals differ in their sensitivity to the environment, with some being more sensitive than others. From the evolutionary perspective, it has also been assumed that sensory processing sensitivity follows a normal distribution in the population, with a minority being exceptionally or highly sensitive to environmental stimuli. We explored data from a sample of 928 young adolescents in two studies. The tool used to evaluate their sensitivity was the Highly Sensitive Child Scale, which in studies 1 and 2 had a three-factor structure. Latent class analysis was used for the interpretation of the data of the studied groups. The obtained results indicate the existence of three groups which differ significantly from each other according to the HSC result. Based on the obtained results, it may be assumed that young adolescents are divided into three groups characterized by different sensitivities and their percentage distribution is not in agreement with the research conducted to date. The acquired information has both a theoretical value and a practical applicability, prompting reflection about the different aspects of the study, such as cultural differences, changes related to the development stage and the characteristics of the evaluation tool itself. From the perspective of possible applications, the obtained results may provide important information (1) to decision-makers who plan support or intervention programs at various levels of prevention, (2) for practitioners to provide them with the means with which to consider sensitivity as an important factor in coping with difficulties through diversified and adequate support (3) that is broadly applicable in the face of an environmental crisis (pandemic, the changing structure of class groups which is related to the number of refugees).
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Baryła-Matejczuk
- Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Grzegorz Kata
- Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | - Wiesław Poleszak
- Institute of Psychology and Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation in Lublin, Lublin, Poland
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16
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Hoogland M, Ploeger A. Two Different Mismatches: Integrating the Developmental and the Evolutionary-Mismatch Hypothesis. PERSPECTIVES ON PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE 2022; 17:1737-1745. [PMID: 35834332 PMCID: PMC9634284 DOI: 10.1177/17456916221078318] [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] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary psychology aims to understand the origins of the human mind,
including disease. Several theories about the origins of disease have been
proposed. One concerns a developmental mismatch—a mismatch might occur at the
individual level between the environment experienced during childhood and the
environment the adult finds herself in, possibly resulting in disease. A second
theory concerns the idea of an evolutionary mismatch—humans are adapted to
ancestral conditions so they might now experience a mismatch with their modern
environment, possibly resulting in disease. A third theory—differential
susceptibility—outlines how genetic and epigenetic differences influence the
extent to which humans are susceptible to rearing, including positive and
negative experiences. Because of these differences, some individuals are more
prone to develop disease than others. We review empirical studies that
substantiate these theories and argue that an overarching theory that integrates
these three lines into one provides a more accurate understanding of disease
from an evolutionary perspective.
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17
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Early life adversity, inflammation, and immune function: An initial test of adaptive response models of immunological programming. Dev Psychopathol 2022; 34:539-555. [PMID: 35152928 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942100170x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Much research indicates that exposure to early life adversity (ELA) predicts chronic inflammatory activity, increasing one's risk of developing diseases of aging later in life. Despite its costs, researchers have proposed that chronic inflammation may be favored in this context because it would help promote immunological vigilance in environments with an elevated risk of infection and injury. Although intuitively appealing, the assumption that exaggerated inflammatory activity predicts favorable immunological outcomes among those exposed to ELA has not been tested. Here, we seek to address this gap, examining the links between exposure to ELA, inflammation, and immune function. Consistent with others' work, results revealed that those from low socioeconomic status (SES) childhood environments exhibited exaggerated unstimulated inflammatory activity relative to what was observed among those from higher SES childhood environments. Further, results revealed that - although levels of inflammation predicted the magnitude of immunological responses in those from higher SES backgrounds - for those who grew up in low SES environments, higher levels of inflammation were unrelated to the magnitude of immunological responses. Results suggest that exaggerated inflammatory activity in the context of ELA may not predict improved ability to manage acute immunological threats.
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18
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Liu S, Fisher PA. Early experience unpredictability in child development as a model for understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: A translational neuroscience perspective. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2022; 54:101091. [PMID: 35217299 PMCID: PMC8860470 DOI: 10.1016/j.dcn.2022.101091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive evidence links adverse experiences during childhood to a wide range of negative consequences in biological, socioemotional, and cognitive development. Unpredictability is a core element underlying most forms of early adversity; it has been a focus of developmental research for many years and has been receiving increasing attention recently. In this article, we propose a conceptual model to describe how unpredictable and adverse early experiences affect children's neurobiological, behavioral, and psychological development in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We first highlight the critical role of unpredictability in child development by reviewing existing conceptual models of early adversity as they relate to subsequent development across the lifespan. Then, we employ a translational neuroscience framework to summarize the current animal- and human-based evidence on the neurobiological alterations induced by early experience unpredictability. We further argue that the COVID-19 pandemic serves as a global "natural experiment" that provides rare insight to the investigation of the negative developmental consequences of widespread, clustered, and unpredictable adverse events among children. We discuss how the pandemic helps advance the science of unpredictable early adverse experiences. As unpredictability research continues to grow, we highlight several directions for future studies and implications for policymaking and intervention practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihong Liu
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States.
| | - Philip A Fisher
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, United States
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19
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Fry CM, Ram N, Gatzke-Kopp LM. Integrating dynamic and developmental time scales: Emotion-specific autonomic coordination predicts baseline functioning over time. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 171:29-37. [PMID: 34906622 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Autonomic nervous system activity flexibly shifts and modulates behavior at multiple time scales, with some work suggesting that patterns of short-term reactivity contribute to long-term developmental change. However, previous work has largely considered sympathetic and parasympathetic systems independently, even though both systems contribute dynamically to the regulation of physiological arousal. Using physiological data obtained from 313 children in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade we examined whether within-person autonomic coordination during an emotion-inducing film task in kindergarten was associated with developmental change in resting autonomic activity. On average, these kindergarteners exhibited reciprocal coordination during the approach-oriented emotion (angry, happy) condition and a lack of coordination during the avoidance-oriented emotion (fear, sad) condition. Alignment with these patterns was associated with more typical autonomic development, specifically an increase in resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and a decrease in resting skin conductance (SCR) from kindergarten to 2nd grade; while lack of coordination during the approach condition was associated with a relatively delayed increase in resting RSA and a steeper decline in SCR, and reciprocal coordination during the avoidance condition was associated with a lack of RSA increase. Findings highlight the need for additional consideration of how moment-to-moment dynamics of autonomic coordination influence longer-term development, and suggest that early patterns of atypical arousal may portend dysregulation of developing physiological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassidy M Fry
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 115 Health & Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Nilam Ram
- Departments of Psychology and Communication, Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Building 120, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Lisa M Gatzke-Kopp
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, 115 Health & Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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20
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Lo SL, Riley HO, Sturza J, Vazquez DM, Rosenblum K, Kaciroti N, Lumeng JC, Miller AL. Cortisol in early childhood moderates the association between family routines and observed affective balance in children from low-income backgrounds. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22204. [PMID: 34813102 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22204] [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] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The study of emotion regulation often addresses control of negative emotion. Researchers have proposed that affective balance is an indicator of emotion regulation that incorporates the role of positive emotion in the context of negative emotional experiences. Environmental and individual factors, such as family processes and biological stress regulation, are known to shape emotion regulation. The present study investigated whether child diurnal cortisol, an indicator of biological stress regulation, moderated the association between family routines and observed affective balance. Children (N = 222; M age = 4.70 years, SD = 0.60) from low-income households provided saliva samples to measure diurnal cortisol and completed a behavioral task designed to elicit negative emotions. Affective balance was defined as the difference score between the proportion of positive and negative emotional expressions displayed during the task. A higher affective balance score indicated greater positive compared with negative emotional displays. Simple slope analyses indicated that for children with a low morning cortisol intercept, more frequent family routines were associated with more affective balance. This pattern was not observed in children with average or high morning cortisol. Positive family routines may play an important role in shaping affective balance among children with disrupted cortisol levels from low-income backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L Lo
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Hurley O Riley
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Julie Sturza
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Delia M Vazquez
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Katherine Rosenblum
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Niko Kaciroti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Julie C Lumeng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Alison L Miller
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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21
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Developmental Pattern of Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm and Sex-Specific Associations With Psychopathological Symptoms During Pubertal Transition. Psychosom Med 2021; 82:823-829. [PMID: 33156262 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine the developmental pattern of diurnal cortisol rhythm during pubertal transition and its prospective association with psychopathological symptoms. METHODS A cohort of 1158 children consisting of 608 boys and 550 girls aged 7 to 9 years (mean [standard deviation] age = 8.04 [0.61] years) were recruited in the Anhui Province of China in 2015 (wave 1). A single awakening sample was collected at baseline, and three additional samples were collected at one weekday in wave 2 to wave 4. Four indices of cortisol activity were evaluated and calculated across the day: awakening cortisol level, cortisol awakening response, the area under the curve with respect to ground (AUC), and the diurnal cortisol slope. In each wave, pubertal development was assessed by testicular size in boys and Tanner scales in girls. Psychopathological symptoms were ascertained in waves 2 to 4. RESULTS Multilevel mixed models revealed no significant pubertal changes in diurnal cortisol activity in girls. In boys, awakening cortisol (β = -0.005, p = .004) and total cortisol output (lnAUC, β = -0.005, p = .040) significantly decreased across pubertal transition. Higher awakening cortisol and total cortisol output (lnAUC) were associated with higher scores on internalizing symptoms in girls (β = 0.82, p < .001; β = 0.62, p = .012) and externalizing symptoms in boys (β = 0.73, p = .001; β = 0.55, p = .019) during the 3-year follow-up. In contrast, no associations were found between cortisol awakening response and diurnal cortisol slope with psychopathological symptom scores in boys or girls. CONCLUSIONS Development of diurnal cortisol activity during pubertal transition occurs in a sex-specific manner. Awakening cortisol level and daily total cortisol output may serve as markers for psychopathology during pubertal transition.
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22
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Baryła-Matejczuk M, Poleszak W, Porzak R. Short Polish version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale - exploring its multidimensional structure in a sample of emerging adults. CURRENT ISSUES IN PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 11:72-86. [PMID: 38013832 PMCID: PMC10535542 DOI: 10.5114/cipp.2021.107339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a heritable trait and persons who are characterized by a high level of it are termed highly sensitive. The first and the most frequently used scale developed to measure high sensitivity is the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), which has become increasingly popular and has been adapted to many languages in recent years. The present article forms a part of the publications which deal with the subject of tool adaptation and the exploration of their structure. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE This article presents the results of research conducted on a Polish sample of emerging adults consisting of 470 persons. The aim of this study is to further analyse the psychometric properties of the HSPS, as well as to provide initial evidence for the properties of the scale on a Polish sample. The analyses conducted to date have been extended and the item response theory (IRT) model has been included. Also, a proposal for a shortened scale is presented. RESULTS The results show that the Polish version of the HSPS constitutes a reliable method whose validity is proven by correlations with the Pavlovian Temperament Survey as well as being a reliable measure of the SPS construct. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained support the multi-factor structure of the scale. There is a need for further analysis of the cultural aspect in sensitivity studies as well as for exploring gender differences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wiesław Poleszak
- Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation, Lublin, Poland
| | - Robert Porzak
- Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Economics and Innovation, Lublin, Poland
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23
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Yuan R, Nechvatal JM, Buckmaster CL, Ayash S, Parker KJ, Schatzberg AF, Lyons DM, Menon V. Long-term effects of intermittent early life stress on primate prefrontal-subcortical functional connectivity. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:1348-1356. [PMID: 33495547 PMCID: PMC8134590 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-00956-0] [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: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Correlational studies of humans suggest that exposure to early life stress has long-term effects on neural circuits involved in vulnerability and resilience to mental health disorders. Stress-related mental health disorders are more prevalent in women than in men. Here, female squirrel monkeys are randomized to intermittently stressful (IS) social separations or a non-separated (NS) control condition conducted from 17 to 27 weeks of age. Nine years later in mid-life adulthood, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was employed to parcellate prefrontal cortex (PFC). Resulting subdivisions were then used to characterize functional connectivity within PFC, and between PFC subdivisions and subcortical regions that are known to be altered by stress. Extensive hyper-connectivity of medial and orbitofrontal PFC with amygdala, hippocampus, and striatum was observed in IS compared to NS monkeys. Functional hyper-connectivity in IS monkeys was associated with previously reported indications of diminished anxiety-like behavior induced by prepubertal stress. Hyper-connectivity of PFC with amygdala and with hippocampus was also associated with increased ventral striatal dopamine D2 and/or D3 receptor (DRD2/3) availability assessed with positron emission tomography (PET) of [11C]raclopride binding in adulthood. Ventral striatal DRD2/3 availability has been linked to cognitive control, which plays a key role in stress coping as an aspect of emotion regulation. These findings provide causal support for enduring neurobiological effects of early life stress and suggest novel targets for new treatments of stress-related mental health disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yuan
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA
| | - Jordan M. Nechvatal
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA ,grid.240952.80000000087342732Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford, USA
| | - Christine L. Buckmaster
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA
| | - Sarah Ayash
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA ,grid.410607.4Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center, Hanns-Dieter-Huesch Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany ,grid.509458.50000 0004 8087 0005Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research, Hanns-Dieter-Huesch Weg 19, 55128 Mainz, Germany
| | - Karen J. Parker
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Alan F. Schatzberg
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - David M. Lyons
- grid.168010.e0000000419368956Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA ,grid.168010.e0000000419368956Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Vinod Menon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, USA. .,Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford, USA. .,Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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24
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Whiting SB, Wass SV, Green S, Thomas MSC. Stress and Learning in Pupils: Neuroscience Evidence and its Relevance for Teachers. MIND, BRAIN AND EDUCATION : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL MIND, BRAIN, AND EDUCATION SOCIETY 2021; 15:177-188. [PMID: 34239601 PMCID: PMC8248342 DOI: 10.1111/mbe.12282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Our understanding of how stress affects primary school children's attention and learning has developed rapidly. We know that children experience differing levels of stressors (factors that cause stress) in their environments, and that this can influence how they respond to new stressors when they occur in educational contexts. Here, we review evidence showing that stress can increase children's attention and learning capacities in some circumstances but hinder them in others. We show how children differ in their attention and learning styles, dependent on stress levels: for example, more highly stressed children may be more distracted by superficial features and may find it harder to engage in planning and voluntary control. We review intervention research on stress management techniques in children, concentrating on psychological techniques (such as mindfulness and stress reappraisal), physiological techniques (such as breathing exercises) and environmental factors (such as reducing noise). At the current time, raising teachers' awareness of pupils' differing stress responses will be an important step in accommodating the differing needs of children in their classrooms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sue B Whiting
- Department of Psychological Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Sam V Wass
- School of Psychology University of East London, London, UK
| | - Simon Green
- Department of Psychological Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
| | - Michael S C Thomas
- Department of Psychological Sciences Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
- Centre for Educational Neuroscience Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK
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25
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Jeong T. Do more stress and lower family economic status increase vulnerability to suicidal ideation? Evidence of a U-shaped relationship in a large cross-sectional sample of South Korean adolescents. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250794. [PMID: 33901265 PMCID: PMC8075251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
It is widely held in socio-behavioral studies of suicide that higher levels of stress and lower levels of economic status amplify suicidal vulnerability when confronted with a proximal stressor, reflecting the traditionally prevalent understanding in health psychology and sociology that associates adverse life circumstances with undesirable mental health outcomes. However, upon reflection, there are strong theoretical reasons to doubt that having more stress or being in a more stressful environment always increases suicidal vulnerability given the occurrence of a crisis. Using large nationally representative public survey data on South Korean adolescents, I show that the association between recent psychosocial crisis and suicidal ideation often gets stronger with more favorable levels of perceived stress and improving levels of family economic status. Overall, the increase in the probability of suicidal ideation from recent exposure to a psychosocial crisis is consistently the smallest around medium levels of stress or family economic status and larger at low or high levels. A supplementary exercise suggests that the identified moderation effects operate mainly in virtue of individual-level stress or family economic status in the relative absence of contextual influences at the school level. The findings present preliminary evidence of the stress inoculation hypothesis with regard to suicidal ideation. Research on suicidal vulnerability could benefit from increased attentiveness to the mechanisms through which being in an adverse or unfavorable life situation could protect against the suicide-inducing effects of proximal stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tay Jeong
- Department of Sociology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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26
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Biological signatures of emotion regulation flexibility in children: Parenting context and links with child adjustment. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 21:805-821. [PMID: 33791924 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-021-00888-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Emotion regulation (ER) is a key facet of positive adjustment throughout the lifespan. Recent theoretical and empirical innovations suggest that current methods for assessing ER are limited, because they measure discrete strategy use instead of ER flexibility and are insensitive to ecologically valid social contexts that influence ER. This is particularly important for studying the impact of parenting on ER development during childhood. The current study (N = 93; 47 females; Mage = 6.98, SD = 1.12) examined child ER flexibility during a directed reappraisal task (DRT) with two parenting contexts: passive parent presence or active scaffolding. Two biological signatures of ER flexibility were measured: respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), an index of physiological flexibility; and the late positive potential (LPP), an index of neurocognitive flexibility. Emotion regulation behavior was observed during a frustrating wait, and parents reported on child ER and adjustment. Greater ER flexibility indexed via the LPP and RSA both predicted observed ER during the frustrating wait, but only RSA predicted parent-reported trait ER and fewer adjustment problems. Emotion regulation flexibility indexed by the LPP was bolstered by parent presence and scaffolding of child ER during the DRT, but RSA measures were not sensitive to parenting context. Taken together, the results provide converging evidence for the conceptualization of ER in terms of physiological and neurocognitive flexibility in childhood. Furthermore, among school-aged children, while physiological flexibility broadly predicted parent-reported child adjustment, neurocognitive flexibility may be context-sensitive and predictive of concurrent observed ER.
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27
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Shonkoff JP, Boyce WT, Levitt P, Martinez FD, McEwen B. Leveraging the Biology of Adversity and Resilience to Transform Pediatric Practice. Pediatrics 2021; 147:peds.2019-3845. [PMID: 33495367 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2019-3845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in science are fundamentally changing the way we understand how inextricable interactions among genetic predispositions, physical and social environments, and developmental timing influence early childhood development and the foundations of health and how significant early adversity can lead to a lifetime of chronic health impairments. This article and companion article illustrate the extent to which differential outcomes are shaped by ongoing interactive adaptations to context that begin at or even before conception and continue throughout life, with increasing evidence pointing to the importance of the prenatal period and early infancy for the developing brain, the immune system, and metabolic regulation. Although new discoveries in the basic sciences are transforming tertiary medical care and producing breakthrough outcomes in treating disease, this knowledge is not being leveraged effectively to inform new approaches to promoting whole-child development and preventing illness. The opportunity for pediatrics to serve as the leading edge of science-based innovation across the early childhood ecosystem has never been more compelling. In this article, we present a framework for leveraging the frontiers of scientific discovery to inform new strategies in pediatric practice and advocacy to protect all developing biological systems from the disruptive effects of excessive early adversity beyond providing information on child development for parents and enriched learning experiences for young children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack P Shonkoff
- Center on the Developing Child and .,Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - W Thomas Boyce
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Pat Levitt
- The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.,Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Fernando D Martinez
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona; and
| | - Bruce McEwen
- The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.,Deceased
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28
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Sep MSC, Joëls M, Geuze E. Individual differences in the encoding of contextual details following acute stress: An explorative study. Eur J Neurosci 2020; 55:2714-2738. [PMID: 33249674 PMCID: PMC9291333 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Information processing under stressful circumstances depends on many experimental conditions, like the information valence or the point in time at which brain function is probed. This also holds true for memorizing contextual details (or ‘memory contextualization’). Moreover, large interindividual differences appear to exist in (context‐dependent) memory formation after stress, but it is mostly unknown which individual characteristics are essential. Various characteristics were explored from a theory‐driven and data‐driven perspective, in 120 healthy men. In the theory‐driven model, we postulated that life adversity and trait anxiety shape the stress response, which impacts memory contextualization following acute stress. This was indeed largely supported by linear regression analyses, showing significant interactions depending on valence and time point after stress. Thus, during the acutephase of the stress response, reduced neutral memory contextualization was related to salivary cortisol level; moreover, certain individual characteristics correlated with memory contextualization of negatively valenced material: (a) life adversity, (b) α‐amylase reactivity in those with low life adversity and (c) cortisol reactivity in those with low trait anxiety. Better neutral memory contextualization during the recoveryphase of the stress response was associated with (a) cortisol in individuals with low life adversity and (b) α‐amylase in individuals with high life adversity. The data‐driven Random Forest‐based variable selection also pointed to (early) life adversity—during the acutephase—and (moderate) α‐amylase reactivity—during the recoveryphase—as individual characteristics related to better memory contextualization. Newly identified characteristics sparked novel hypotheses about non‐anxious personality traits, age, mood and states during retrieval of context‐related information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milou S C Sep
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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29
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Abstract
A now substantial body of science implicates a dynamic interplay between genetic and environmental variation in the development of individual differences in behavior and health. Such outcomes are affected by molecular, often epigenetic, processes involving gene-environment (G-E) interplay that can influence gene expression. Early environments with exposures to poverty, chronic adversities, and acutely stressful events have been linked to maladaptive development and compromised health and behavior. Genetic differences can impart either enhanced or blunted susceptibility to the effects of such pathogenic environments. However, largely missing from present discourse regarding G-E interplay is the role of time, a "third factor" guiding the emergence of complex developmental endpoints across different scales of time. Trajectories of development increasingly appear best accounted for by a complex, dynamic interchange among the highly linked elements of genes, contexts, and time at multiple scales, including neurobiological (minutes to milliseconds), genomic (hours to minutes), developmental (years and months), and evolutionary (centuries and millennia) time. This special issue of PNAS thus explores time and timing among G-E transactions: The importance of timing and timescales in plasticity and critical periods of brain development; epigenetics and the molecular underpinnings of biologically embedded experience; the encoding of experience across time and biological levels of organization; and gene-regulatory networks in behavior and development and their linkages to neuronal networks. Taken together, the collection of papers offers perspectives on how G-E interplay operates contingently within and against a backdrop of time and timescales.
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30
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Barnes AJ, Anthony BJ, Karatekin C, Lingras KA, Mercado R, Thompson LA. Identifying adverse childhood experiences in pediatrics to prevent chronic health conditions. Pediatr Res 2020; 87:362-370. [PMID: 31622974 PMCID: PMC6962546 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0613-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Despite evidence that over 40% of youth in the United States have one or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and that ACEs have cumulative, pernicious effects on lifelong health, few primary care clinicians routinely ask about ACEs. Lack of standardized and accurate clinical assessments for ACEs, combined with no point-of-care biomarkers of the "toxic stress" caused by ACEs, hampers prevention of the health consequences of ACEs. Thus, there is no consensus regarding how to identify, screen, and track ACEs, and whether early identification of toxic stress can prevent disease. In this review, we aim to clarify why, for whom, when, and how to identify ACEs in pediatric clinical care. To do so, we examine the evidence for such identification; describe the efficacy and accuracy of potential screening instruments; discuss current trends in, and potential barriers to, the identification of ACEs and the prevention of downstream effects; and recommend next steps for research, practice, and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Barnes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA.
| | - Bruno J Anthony
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Canan Karatekin
- Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Katherine A Lingras
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA
| | - Rebeccah Mercado
- Departments of Pediatrics, Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lindsay Acheson Thompson
- Departments of Pediatrics, Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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