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Kruszecka-Krówka A, Cepuch G, Micek A. Stress Coping Strategies in Parents of Newborns and Infants with Congenital Cyanotic Heart Disease with Regard to Stress Levels and Negative Emotions. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:508. [PMID: 38790503 PMCID: PMC11120106 DOI: 10.3390/children11050508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parents of children suffering from congenital heart disease experience high levels of stress and negative emotions. Therefore, recognition of parents' emotional states and their ways of coping with it is becoming more and more important. METHODS The study group consisted of 154 parents of newborns and infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease, before and after cardiac surgery (partial or full). To assess parental negative emotions, the level of stress, and strategies of coping with it, standardized questionnaires, such as HADS-M, PSS-10, and COPE, were used. RESULTS Stress levels in parents were high and associated with negative emotions (anxiety, depression, irritability), as well as the choice of non-constructive coping strategies, which was observed especially in younger parents. CONCLUSIONS Assessing parents' stress levels and ways of coping with stress can improve family functioning and provide better development conditions for the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Kruszecka-Krówka
- Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 25 Kopernik Street, 31-501 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Grażyna Cepuch
- Nursing and Midwifery Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 25 Kopernik Street, 31-501 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Agnieszka Micek
- Statistical Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 25 Kopernik Street, 31-501 Krakow, Poland;
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2
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Halabicky OM, Giang CW, Miller AL, Peterson KE. Lead exposure, glucocorticoids, and physiological stress across the life course: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 345:123329. [PMID: 38281572 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123329] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The biological pathways linking lead exposure to adverse outcomes are beginning to be understood. Rodent models suggest lead exposure induces dysfunction within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and glucocorticoid regulation, a primary physiological stress response system. Over time, HPA axis and glucocorticoid dysfunction has been associated with adverse neurocognitive and cardiometabolic health, much like lead exposure. This systematic review utilized PRISMA guidelines to synthesize the literature regarding associations between lead exposure and downstream effector hormones of the HPA axis, including cortisol, a glucocorticoid, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a glucocorticoid antagonist. We additionally determined the state of the evidence regarding lead exposure and allostatic load, a measure of cumulative body burden resultant of HPA axis and glucocorticoid dysfunction. A total of 18 articles were included in the review: 16 assessed cortisol or DHEA and 3 assessed allostatic load. Generally, the few available child studies suggest a significant association between early life lead exposure and altered cortisol, potentially suggesting the impact of developmental exposure. In adulthood, only cross sectional studies were available. These reported significant associations between lead and reduced cortisol awakening response and increased cortisol reactivity, but few associations with fasting serum cortisol. Two studies reported significant associations between increasing lead exposure and allostatic load in adults and another between early life lead exposure and adolescent allostatic load. The paucity of studies examining associations between lead exposure and allostatic load or DHEA and overall heterogeneity of allostatic load measurements limit conclusions. However, these findings cautiously suggest associations between lead and dysregulation of physiological stress pathways (i.e., glucocorticoids) as seen through cortisol measurement in children and adults. Future research would help to elucidate these associations and could further examine the physiological stress pathway as a mediator between lead exposure and detrimental health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- O M Halabicky
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - C W Giang
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - A L Miller
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| | - K E Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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3
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Shirtcliff EA, Hanson JL, Ruttle PL, Smith B, Pollak SD. Cortisol's diurnal rhythm indexes the neurobiological impact of child adversity in adolescence. Biol Psychol 2024; 187:108766. [PMID: 38428723 PMCID: PMC11031307 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108766] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Adverse early life experiences, such as child maltreatment, shapes hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity. The impact of social context is often probed through laboratory stress reactivity, yet child maltreatment is a severe form of chronic stress that recalibrates even stable or relatively inflexible stress systems such as cortisol's diurnal rhythm. This study was designed to determine how different social contexts, which place divergent demands on children, shape cortisol's diurnal rhythm. Participants include 120 adolescents (9-14 years), including 42 youth with substantiated child physical abuse. Up to 32 saliva samples were obtained in the laboratory, on days youth stayed home, and on school days. A 3-level hierarchical linear model examined cortisol within each day and extracted the diurnal rhythm at level 1; across days at level 2; and between-individual differences in cortisol and its rhythm at level 3. While cortisol's diurnal rhythm was flattened when youth were in the novel laboratory context, the impact of maltreatment was observed within the home context such that maltreated children had persistently flattened diurnal rhythms. The effect of maltreatment overlapped with current chronic interpersonal family stress. Results are consistent with the idea that maltreatment exerts a robust, detrimental impact on the HPA axis and are interpreted in the context of less flexibility and rhythmicity. The HPA axis adapts by encoding signifiers of relevant harsh or unpredictable environments, and the extreme stress of physical abuse in the family setting may be one of these environments which calibrates the developing child's stress responsive system, even throughout a developmental stage in which the family takes on diminishing importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Shirtcliff
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 415 Lewis Integrative Sciences Building, Eugene, OR 97401, USA.
| | - Jamie L Hanson
- University of Pittsburgh, Department of Psychology, 3420 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Paula L Ruttle
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 415 Lewis Integrative Sciences Building, Eugene, OR 97401, USA
| | - Brandon Smith
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, 415 Lewis Integrative Sciences Building, Eugene, OR 97401, USA
| | - Seth D Pollak
- University of Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Psychology and Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705-2280, USA
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4
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Rahal D, Shirtcliff EA, Fuligni A, Kogut K, Gonzales N, Johnson M, Eskenazi B, Deardorff J. Dampened psychobiological responses to stress and substance use in adolescence. Dev Psychopathol 2023; 35:1497-1514. [PMID: 35758286 PMCID: PMC9792637 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Substance use increases throughout adolescence, and earlier substance use may increase risk for poorer health. However, limited research has examined whether stress responses relate to adolescent substance use, especially among adolescents from ethnic minority and high-adversity backgrounds. The present study assessed whether blunted emotional and cortisol responses to stress at age 14 related to substance use by ages 14 and 16, and whether associations varied by poverty status and sex. A sample of 277 Mexican-origin youth (53.19% female; 68.35% below the poverty line) completed a social-evaluative stress task, which was culturally adapted for this population, and provided saliva samples and rated their anger, sadness, and happiness throughout the task. They also reported whether they had ever used alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, and vaping of nicotine at age 14 and again at age 16. Multilevel models suggested that blunted cortisol reactivity to stress was associated with alcohol use by age 14 and vaping nicotine by age 16 among youth above the poverty line. Also, blunted sadness and happiness reactivity to stress was associated with use of marijuana and alcohol among female adolescents. Blunted stress responses may be a risk factor for substance use among youth above the poverty line and female adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny Rahal
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Andrew Fuligni
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Arizona State University, Psychology Department, Tempe, AZ 85287
| | - Katherine Kogut
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Nancy Gonzales
- University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health, Berkeley, CA 94704, 510-642-3496
| | - Megan Johnson
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Brenda Eskenazi
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Julianna Deardorff
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095
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5
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Pham HT, Bendezú JJ, Wadsworth ME. HPA-SAM co-activation among racially diverse, economically disadvantaged early adolescents: Secondary analysis with a preliminary test of a multisystem, person-centered approach. Biol Psychol 2023; 179:108546. [PMID: 36990378 PMCID: PMC10175235 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the co-activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenomedullary (SAM) responses to acute stress can provide insight into how risk might become biologically embedded during early adolescence and improve understanding of what distinguishes physiological dysregulation from normative/expected physiological responses to stress. Evidence has thus far been mixed as to whether symmetric or asymmetric co-activation patterns are associated with higher exposure to chronic stress and poorer mental health outcomes during adolescence. This study expands on a prior multisystem, person-centered analysis of lower-risk, racially homogenous youth by focusing on HPA-SAM co-activation patterns in a higher-risk, racially diverse sample of early adolescents from low-income families (N = 119, Mage=11.79 years, 55.5% female, 52.7% mono-racial Black). The present study was conducted by performing secondary analysis of data from the baseline assessment of an intervention efficacy trial. Participants and caregivers completed questionnaires; youth also completed the Trier Social Stress Test-Modified (TSST-M) and provided six saliva samples. Multitrajectory modeling (MTM) of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels identified four HPA-SAM co-activation profiles. In accordance with the asymmetric-risk model, youth exhibiting Low HPA-High SAM (n = 46) and High HPA-Low SAM (n = 28) profiles experienced more stressful life events, posttraumatic stress, and emotional and behavioral problems relative to Low HPA-Low SAM (n = 30) and High HPA-High SAM (n = 15) youth. Findings highlight potential differences in biological embedding of risk during early adolescence based on individuals' exposure to chronic stress and illustrate the utility of multisystem and person-centered approaches in understanding how risk might get "underneath the skin" across systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly T Pham
- Department of Psychology, 234 Moore Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| | - Jason José Bendezú
- Department of Psychology, 234 Moore Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Martha E Wadsworth
- Department of Psychology, 234 Moore Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
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6
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Eiden RD, Ettekal I, Zhao J, Kelm MR, Nickerson AB, Ostrov JM, Schuetze P, Godleski S. Prenatal substance exposure, early-life adversity, and parenting: Associations with adolescent stress response. Dev Psychobiol 2023; 65:e22365. [PMID: 36811371 PMCID: PMC9971663 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22365] [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: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
We tested a conceptual model examining associations between prenatal substance exposure and adolescent cortisol reactivity profiles in response to an acute social evaluative stressor. We included cortisol reactivity in infancy, and direct and interactive effects of early-life adversity and parenting behaviors (sensitivity, harshness) from infancy to early school age on adolescent cortisol reactivity profiles in model testing. Participants were 216 families (51% female children; 116 cocaine-exposed) recruited at birth, oversampled for prenatal substance exposure, and assessed from infancy to early adolescence (EA). Majority of participants self-identified as Black (72% mothers, 57.2% adolescents), and caregivers were primarily from low-income families (76%), were single (86%), and had high school or below education (70%) at recruitment. Latent profile analyses identified three cortisol reactivity patterns including elevated (20.4%), moderate (63.1%), and blunted (16.5%) reactivity groups. Prenatal tobacco exposure was associated with higher likelihood of membership in the elevated reactivity compared to the moderate reactivity group. Higher caregiver sensitivity in early life was associated with lower likelihood of membership in the elevated reactivity group. Prenatal cocaine exposure was associated with higher maternal harshness. Interaction effects among early-life adversity and parenting indicated that caregiver sensitivity buffered, and harshness exacerbated, the likelihood that high early adversity would be associated with the elevated and blunted reactivity groups. Results highlight the potential importance of prenatal alcohol and tobacco exposure for cortisol reactivity and the role of parenting as exacerbating or buffering the impact of early-life adversity on adolescent stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rina D. Eiden
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
| | | | - Junru Zhao
- University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
| | | | | | - Jamie M. Ostrov
- University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY
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7
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Taylor BK, Fung MH, Frenzel MR, Johnson HJ, Willett MP, Badura-Brack AS, White SF, Wilson TW. Increases in Circulating Cortisol during the COVID-19 Pandemic are Associated with Changes in Perceived Positive and Negative Affect among Adolescents. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2022; 50:1543-1555. [PMID: 36048374 PMCID: PMC9435427 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-00967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has spread across the world and resulted in over 5 million deaths to date, as well as countless lockdowns, disruptions to daily life, and extended period of social distancing and isolation. The impacts on youth in particular are astounding, with shifts in learning platforms, limited social outlets, and prolonged uncertainty about the future. Surveys have shown that mental health among youth has severely suffered during the pandemic. However, limited research to date has reported on physiological indices of stress surrounding the pandemic, such as cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that typically increases during stressful situations and can have deleterious effects on mental and physical health when chronically heightened. The present study leveraged hair cortisol concentration measurements, which allowed the retrospectiveinvestigation of circulating cortisol prior to- versus after pandemic-related local lockdowns during the first wave of the pandemic. A final sample of 44 youth ages 10- to 18-years-old provided hair samples and reported on their perceived affective well-being and level of concern regarding pandemic-related stressors between May and June of 2020. We found significant levels of concern and decreases in affective well-being following local lockdowns. Moreover, we saw that cortisol robustly increased following local lockdowns, and those increases were predictive of changes in affect. These findings provide critical insights into the underlying neuroendocrinology of stress during the pandemic and support the need for resources to support youths’ mental health and well-being during this globally significant event.
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8
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Cruz D, Lichten M, Berg K, George P. Developmental trauma: Conceptual framework, associated risks and comorbidities, and evaluation and treatment. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:800687. [PMID: 35935425 PMCID: PMC9352895 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.800687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Children exposed to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and pervasive interpersonal traumas may go on to develop PTSD and, in most cases, will further undergo a significant shift in their developmental trajectory. This paper examines contemporary research on Developmental Trauma (DT), which is inextricably linked to disruptions in social cognition, physiological and behavioral regulation, and parent-child attachments. Developmental trauma associated with early experiences of abuse or neglect leads to multi-faceted and longstanding consequences and underscores critical periods of development, complex stress-mediated adaptations, and multilevel, trans-theoretical influences in the diagnostic formulation and treatment of traumatized children, adolescents, and adults. Psychological and medical correlates of Developmental Trauma Disorder are considered, and directions for future research are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Cruz
- Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | | | - Kevin Berg
- Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ, United States
| | - Preethi George
- Hackensack Meridian Health Mountainside Medical Center, Montclair, NJ, United States
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9
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Abstract
The effects of glucocorticoids on aggression can be conceptualized based on its mechanisms of action. These hormones can affect cell function non-genomically within minutes, primarily by affecting the cell membrane. Overall, such effects are activating and promote both metabolic preparations for the fight and aggressive behavior per se. Chronic increases in glucocorticoids activate genomic mechanisms and are depressing overall, including the inhibition of aggressive behavior. Finally, excessive stressors trigger epigenetic phenomena that have a large impact on brain programming and may also induce the reprogramming of neural functions. These induce qualitative changes in aggression that are deemed abnormal in animals, and psychopathological and criminal in humans. This review aims at deciphering the roles of glucocorticoids in aggression control by taking in view the three mechanisms of action often categorized as acute, chronic, and toxic stress based on the duration and the consequences of the stress response. It is argued that the tripartite way of influencing aggression can be recognized in all three animal, psychopathological, and criminal aggression and constitute a framework of mechanisms by which aggressive behavior adapts to short-term and log-term changes in the environment.
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10
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Mayo CO, Pham H, Patallo B, Joos CM, Wadsworth ME. Coping with poverty-related stress: A narrative review. DEVELOPMENTAL REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.dr.2022.101024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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11
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Sharpe I, Davison CM. Investigating the role of climate-related disasters in the relationship between food insecurity and mental health for youth aged 15-24 in 142 countries. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000560. [PMID: 36962728 PMCID: PMC10021754 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Food insecurity (FI) represents a major global health challenge. Because climate-related disasters are a determinant of both FI and poor mental health, we investigated whether the severity of these disasters intensifies the relationship between FI and youth mental health. Data on FI and mental health came from the Gallup World Poll, a nationally representative survey of individuals in 142 countries, which included 28,292 youth aged 15-24. Data on climate-related disasters came from the International Disaster Database, a country-level record of disasters. Multilevel negative binomial regression was used to calculate relative risk (RR) of poor mental health. Youth with moderate or severe FI were significantly more likely to report poor mental health experiences compared to those with none/mild FI (moderate: RR 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32-1.41; severe: 1.60, 95% CI 1.54-1.66). We also observed a weak yet significant interaction effect (p<0.0001), which suggested that the country-level relationship between FI and poor mental health is slightly stronger at greater disaster severity. While further research is needed to improve our understanding of these complex relationships, these findings suggest that mental health should be considered when undertaking national climate change actions and that additional FI-related supports may work to improve youth mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isobel Sharpe
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Colleen M Davison
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Johnson LE, Parra LA, Ugarte E, Weissman DG, Han SG, Robins RW, Guyer AE, Hastings PD. Patterns of poverty across adolescence predict salivary cortisol stress responses in Mexican-origin youths. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 132:105340. [PMID: 34246154 PMCID: PMC8820840 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Poverty is a chronic stressor associated with disruptions in psychophysiological development during adolescence. This study examined associations of chronic poverty and income changes experienced from pre- to mid-adolescence with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis stress responses in late adolescence. Participants (N = 229) were adolescents of Mexican-origin (48.7% female). Household income (converted to income-to-needs ratios) was assessed annually when children were 10-16 years old. At 17 years, adolescents completed Cyberball, a social exclusion simulation task while undergoing a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. Saliva samples were collected prior to and five times over a 50-minute period following the scan, from which salivary cortisol was assayed. Results showed that differential trajectories of poverty from ages 10-16 predicted HPA axis activity at age 17. Relative to others, distinct HPA suppression (hyporeactivity) was demonstrated by youth who started adolescence in deep poverty and were still living in poverty at age 16 despite experiencing some income gains. Youth from more economically secure families evinced typical cortisol increases following the lab stressor. These results suggest that subsequent HPA functioning varies as a function of economic status throughout adolescence, and that efforts to increase family income may promote healthy HPA functioning for youths in the most impoverished circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa E. Johnson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis,Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis
| | - Luis A. Parra
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis,Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis,Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California
| | - Elisa Ugarte
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis,Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis
| | | | - Sasha G. Han
- Department of Psychology, St. Bonaventure University
| | | | - Amanda E. Guyer
- Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis,Department of Human Ecology, University of California, Davis
| | - Paul D. Hastings
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis,Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis
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13
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Padrós Cuxart M, Molina Roldán S, Gismero E, Tellado I. Evidence of Gender Violence Negative Impact on Health as a Lever to Change Adolescents' Attitudes and Preferences towards Dominant Traditional Masculinities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18189610. [PMID: 34574534 PMCID: PMC8472082 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18189610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Women and girls experience gender violence from a young age. Scientific research has presented evidence of the negative impact of toxic relationships and toxic stress on physical and psychological health. However, less is known on how this evidence can have a preventive effect. Knowing these impacts can be important for women and girls to decide the type of affective-sexual relationships they want to have, and even transform their attraction towards different types of masculinity. This study presents results from the MEMO4LOVE project. Researchers use mixed-methods approaches, including a questionnaire (n = 141) to study adolescents' peer groups' interactions that promoted healthy or toxic affective-sexual relationships, and five communicative focus groups with boys and girls to analyze how these interactions can be transformed by sharing scientific knowledge on the effects of violent relationships with adolescents. The results showed the impact of sharing with adolescents the evidence of the adverse effects of toxic relationships with violent masculinities on health. The peer group's transformation occurred: non-violent boys gained self-confidence, and girls redirected or reinforced their attraction to non-violent boys. These results suggest the potential positive effects of knowing the impacts of toxic relationships on girls' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Padrós Cuxart
- Department of Teaching and Learning and Educational Organization, University of Barcelona, Passeig de la Vall d’Hebron, 171, 08035 Barcelona, Spain;
| | - Silvia Molina Roldán
- Department of Pedagogy, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carretera de Valls, s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Elena Gismero
- Department of Psychology and UNINPSI, Comillas Pontifical University, C. Universidad Pontificia Comillas, 3-5, 28049 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Itxaso Tellado
- Department of Pedagogy, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia, c/Sagrada Família, 7, 08500 Vic, Spain;
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14
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Cohodes EM, Kribakaran S, Odriozola P, Bakirci S, McCauley S, Hodges HR, Sisk LM, Zacharek SJ, Gee DG. Migration-related trauma and mental health among migrant children emigrating from Mexico and Central America to the United States: Effects on developmental neurobiology and implications for policy. Dev Psychobiol 2021; 63:e22158. [PMID: 34292596 PMCID: PMC8410670 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Children make up over half of the world's migrants and refugees and face a multitude of traumatic experiences prior to, during, and following migration. Here, we focus on migrant children emigrating from Mexico and Central America to the United States and review trauma related to migration, as well as its implications for the mental health of migrant and refugee children. We then draw upon the early adversity literature to highlight potential behavioral and neurobiological sequalae of migration-related trauma exposure, focusing on attachment, emotion regulation, and fear learning and extinction as transdiagnostic mechanisms underlying the development of internalizing and externalizing symptomatology following early-life adversity. This review underscores the need for interdisciplinary efforts to both mitigate the effects of trauma faced by migrant and refugee youth emigrating from Mexico and Central America and, of primary importance, to prevent child exposure to trauma in the context of migration. Thus, we conclude by outlining policy recommendations aimed at improving the mental health of migrant and refugee youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Cohodes
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sahana Kribakaran
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Paola Odriozola
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sarah Bakirci
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sarah McCauley
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - H R Hodges
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lucinda M Sisk
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sadie J Zacharek
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Dylan G Gee
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Whelan E, O'Shea J, Hunt E, Dockray S. Evaluating measures of allostatic load in adolescents: A systematic review. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 131:105324. [PMID: 34198124 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescents can experience heightened stress due to biopsychosocial changes that occur during this developmental stage. The 'wear and tear' of the physiological systems responsible for managing our stress response can lead to dysregulation of these systems, known as allostatic load (AL). AL is commonly measured within adult populations, however, inconsistencies exist across measures used to quantify the effects of stress on health. The aim of this review was to identify variations in measures across AL studies, and to consider how specific measures may be more appropriate for use within adolescent populations. METHOD Pubmed, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Academic Search Complete, were searched in July 2020, using search terms 'allostatic load' and 'adolescence'. AL studies (1988-2020) with an adolescent population (age 10-24 years) were included. 354 records were screened by two reviewers and 41 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. RESULTS 25 studies were included in final synthesis. Biomarkers of AL ranged from 1 to 14. The most common index of AL consisted of 6 biomarkers; cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and body-mass index. FINDINGS Defining measures of AL during adolescence may help to identify vulnerabilities specific to adolescents, which may shape their lifelong health trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eadaoin Whelan
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland.
| | - Jen O'Shea
- School of Applied Psychology, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Eithne Hunt
- Dept. of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University College Cork, Ireland
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Sladek MR, Castro SA, Doane LD. Ethnic-Racial discrimination experiences predict Latinx adolescents' physiological stress processes across college transition. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 128:105212. [PMID: 33933893 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Consistent with conceptual frameworks of ethnic-race-based stress responses, and empirical evidence for the detrimental effects of ethnic-racial discrimination, the current study hypothesized that experiencing more frequent ethnic-racial discrimination during adolescence would predict differences in physiological responses to psychosocial stress across the college transition. U.S. Latinx adolescents (N = 84; Mage = 18.56; SD = 0.35; 63.1% female; 85.7% Mexican descent) completed survey measures of ethnic-racial discrimination during their final year of high school and first college semester (~5 months later), as well as a standard psychosocial stressor task during their first college semester. Repeated blood pressure and salivary cortisol measures were recorded to assess cardiovascular and neuroendocrine activity at baseline and stress reactivity and recovery. Data were analyzed using multilevel growth models. Experiencing more frequent ethnic-racial discrimination in high school, specifically from adults, predicted higher baseline physiological stress levels and lower reactivity to psychosocial stress during the first college semester, evidenced by both blood pressure and cortisol measures. Experiencing ethnic-racial discrimination from peers in high school also predicted higher baseline blood pressure in college, but not stress reactivity indices. Results were consistent when controlling for concurrent reports of ethnic-racial discrimination, gender, parents' education level, body mass index, oral contraceptive use, time between longitudinal assessments, depressive symptoms, and general perceived stress. Experiencing frequent ethnic-racial discrimination during adolescence may lead to overburdening stress response systems, indexed by lower cardiovascular and neuroendocrine stress reactivity. Multiple physiological stress systems are sensitive to the consequences of ethnic-racial discrimination among Latinx adolescents transitioning to college.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Sladek
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, United States.
| | - Saul A Castro
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, United States.
| | - Leah D Doane
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, United States.
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The differential calibration of the HPA axis as a function of trauma versus adversity: A systematic review and p-curve meta-analyses. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:54-135. [PMID: 33857580 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Although there is an abundance of evidence linking the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to adverse early-life experiences, the precise nature of the association remains unclear. Some evidence suggests early-life adversity leads to cortisol hyper-reactivity, while other evidence suggests adversity leads to cortisol hypo-reactivity. Here, we distinguish between trauma and adversity, and use p-curves to interrogate the conflicting literature. In Study 1, trauma was operationalized according to DSM-5 criteria; the p-curve analysis included 68 articles and revealed that the literature reporting associations between trauma and blunted cortisol reactivity contains evidential value. Study 2 examined the relationship between adversity and cortisol reactivity. Thirty articles were included in the analysis, and p-curve demonstrated that adversity is related to heightened cortisol reactivity. These results support an inverted U-shaped function relating severity of adversity and cortisol reactivity, and underscore the importance of distinguishing between "trauma" and "adversity".
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Raslan N, Hamlet A, Kumari V. Mental health and psychosocial support in conflict: children's protection concerns and intervention outcomes in Syria. Confl Health 2021; 15:19. [PMID: 33794955 PMCID: PMC8017743 DOI: 10.1186/s13031-021-00350-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Child protection and mental health during conflict intersects with a variety of adverse conflict-related factors, and intervention outcomes in the field are often difficult to predict. Using the casefiles of 376 school children registered in a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) project in the Northwest governorate of Idleb in Syria, this study aimed to determine (i) the rates of various protection concerns (potential mental health conditions, psychosocial deprivation issues, and social, behavioural and emotional issues) for students enrolled in this project, (ii) whether the rates of any of the protection concerns varied between children and adolescents, or between boys and girls, and (iii) which of the identified demographic and protection sector factors predicted the presence of potential mental health conditions and MHPSS intervention outcomes. MHPSS interventions (including individual MHPSS sessions tailored for children in conflict, resilience building activities, tutoring, peer building activities, community awareness, and other tailored services) were implemented at schools operated by the UK-based organization, Syria Relief. The variables tested included demographic variables of age group (208 children, aged 4-9 years; 168 adolescents, aged 10-14 years) and gender (211 males, 165 females), and 23 protection sector variables including 11 potential mental health problems (anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, autism, epilepsy, motor tics, depression, post-traumatic-stress disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, learning disability), 7 psychosocial deprivation (PSD) variables (war injury, child labour, loss of caregiver, neglect, domestic abuse, displacement, poverty), and 5 social, behavioural and emotional (SBE) variables (low/abnormal socialization, emotional issue, peer issues/being bullied, peer issues/being aggressive, educational decline). Within the sample, 73.7% were found with a probable mental health problem, with 30.6% showing signs of anxiety, 36.2% of depression and 26.6% showing signs of post-traumatic-stress disorder. Additionally, 74.5% of the sample had at least one form of PSD present (42.6% were displaced, 39.6% suffered from abject poverty), and 64.9% had a reported SBE concern. Children were more likely to have a potential mental health concern, especially autism and PTSD, and poor socialization; while adolescents were more likely to engage in child labour, experience abject poverty, exhibit aggressive behaviour, and educational decline. Male gender was associated with child labour and aggressive behaviour while female gender was associated with the presence of potential mental health problems, especially depression, and loss of caregiver, and poor socialisation. Odds ratios (ORs) indicated significant negative impact of the presence of SBE concerns (any), 4.45 (95% CI: 1.68-12.7), emotional issue, 11.02 (95% CI: 2.76-74.49), low/abnormal socialization, 8.37 (95% CI, 2-57.71), and displacement, 2.91 (95% CI, 1.21-7.48) on the child's mental health. MHPSS intervention outcomes were categorized as case improvement, decline, or incomplete/limited information available; with case improvement noted for 63.6% of the sample, decline noted for 14.4%, and incomplete treatment/limited follow-up noted for 22.1% of the sample. Additional analysis of predictors of treatment success found that child labour was significantly associated with a lack of treatment success, OR 0.24 (95% CI, 0.07-0.92). These findings provide important insights into the complex tailoring needs that protection and MHPSS field projects require.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Raslan
- Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK.
| | - Arran Hamlet
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Veena Kumari
- Division of Psychology, Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, London, UB8 3PH, UK.
- Centre for Cognitive Neuroscience, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, UB8 3PH, Uxbridge, UK.
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Engstrom M, Liu G, Santana-Gonzalez C, Teoh JY, Harms M, Koy K, Quevedo K. The impact of child abuse on the neurobiology of self-processing in depressed adolescents. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 14:100310. [PMID: 33681431 PMCID: PMC7910521 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100310] [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: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Child abuse is linked to lifetime psychopathology including abnormal self-processing. Given self-processing maturation in adolescence, we tested duration, presence, and abuse accumulation's impact upon self-processing neurobiology among depressed youth with (N = 54) and without an abuse history (N = 40). Youth evaluated positive and negative self-descriptors across four points of view in the scanner. Regression analyses showed that longer abuse duration (in days) was associated with lower activity in inferior temporal (e.g. insula, fusiform & parahippocampus), striatal, cerebellar and midbrain structures when processing negative self-descriptors with the least activity in youth exposed to 6+ abuse years. Abuse presence vs. absence was linked to higher neural activity. However, youth exposed to a single abuse instance to 3 years of abuse might drive that relative neural hyperactivity. Results support: 1) the toxic stress model of blunted overall neuro-reactivity underpinning emotion, sensorimotor gating, and social cognition during negative stimuli as an adaptation to pervasively toxic environments and 2) the differential impact of acute versus chronic stress upon neurophysiological indices. Finally, child abuse duration might impact these ancillary and higher socioemotional processes differently among depressed youth primarily for negative but not positive self-processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Engstrom
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
| | - Guanmin Liu
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
| | | | - Jia Yuan Teoh
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
| | - Madeline Harms
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
| | - Kiry Koy
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
| | - Karina Quevedo
- Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota (U of M), USA
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Emery CR, Xie QW, Chan JSM, Leng LL, Chan CHY, So KF, Li A, Po KKT, Chouliara Z, Chan CLW, Choi AWM, Yuen LP, Ku KS, Kung W, Ng SM. The Counterintuitive Relationship between Telomerase Activity and Childhood Emotional Abuse: Culture and Complexity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18041619. [PMID: 33567728 PMCID: PMC7914855 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A burgeoning literature has found relationships between telomere length, telomerase activity, and human health and longevity. Although some research links a history of childhood adversity with shortened telomere length, our review found no prior research on the relationship between child maltreatment history and telomerase activity in adulthood. We hypothesized a negative relationship between child maltreatment and telomerase activity and hypothesized that the association would be moderated by sex. METHODS: These relationships were tested on a sample of 262 Hong Kong Chinese adults (200 females versus 62 males) with mild to moderate depression. RESULTS: Counterintuitively, emotional abuse was positively associated with telomerase activity, while other maltreatment types were non-significant. The positive relationship between emotional abuse and telomerase activity was significantly moderated by the sex of the participant. CONCLUSIONS: We advance two possible explanations for this finding (1) a culturally informed resilience explanation and (2) a homeostatic complexity explanation. The two explanations are not mutually exclusive. This trial is registered under Hong Kong Clinical Trial Register number HKCTR-1929. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Emotional abuse was significantly positively associated with telomerase activity. There are at least two non-mutually exclusive explanations for the findings. Simply put, either (1) in the cultural context of Hong Kong emotional abuse was not a risk factor, and/or (2) the conceptualization of telomerase activity as a straightforward indicator of longevity is overly simplistic. The first story we might term a “resilience explanation” while the second we might call a “homeostatic complexity” story.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifton R. Emery
- SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (L.-L.L.); (C.H.Y.C.); (C.L.W.C.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.E.); (S.-M.N.)
| | - Qian-Wen Xie
- School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China;
| | - Jessie S. M. Chan
- Department of Psychology, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong;
| | - Ling-Li Leng
- SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (L.-L.L.); (C.H.Y.C.); (C.L.W.C.)
| | - Celia H. Y. Chan
- SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (L.-L.L.); (C.H.Y.C.); (C.L.W.C.)
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (K.-F.S.); (K.K.T.P.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Ang Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration Ministry of Education, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Kevin K. T. Po
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (K.-F.S.); (K.K.T.P.)
| | - Zoe Chouliara
- Independent Practice, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH7, UK;
| | - Cecilia Lai Wan Chan
- SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (L.-L.L.); (C.H.Y.C.); (C.L.W.C.)
| | - Anna W. M. Choi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong;
| | - L. P. Yuen
- International Association for Health and Yangsheng, 20 Venturi Rd., Happy Valley, Hong Kong;
| | - Kam Shing Ku
- Haven of Hope Haven of Hope Christian Service, 7 Haven of Hope Rd, Hong Kong;
| | - Winnie Kung
- Graduate School of Social Service, Fordham University, New York, NY 10023, USA;
| | - Siu-Man Ng
- SWSA, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong; (L.-L.L.); (C.H.Y.C.); (C.L.W.C.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.E.); (S.-M.N.)
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