Examining Child Sex as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Cortisol Reactivity and Symptoms Over Time

Females’ reactivity to stress appears to be closely tied to internalizing symptoms, while males who are under-reactive may be at risk for externalizing problems. Little is known about when such differences emerge, despite possible implications for early prevention. Cortisol reactivity to a laboratory stressor was assessed in 409 three-year-old children along with children’s parent-reported internalizing and externalizing symptoms, which were re-collected at child ages 5 and 8. Multilevel modelling was used to investigate whether the relationship between cortisol reactivity and symptoms differed between boys and girls longitudinally. Over time, girls with lower cortisol reactivity showed a decrease in depressive symptoms while girls with higher reactivity showed relatively elevated symptoms. Boys with higher cortisol reactivity showed a decrease in externalizing problems; boys with lower reactivity remained relatively stable in such symptoms. Findings suggest sex differences in children’s stress reactivity, with implications for the later manifestation of symptoms across childhood.

Name thesis:degree_name

M Sc

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Western Ontario

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Daoust, Andrew R

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hayden, Elizabeth P.

• cortisol
• HPA axis
• stress reactivity
• psychopathology
• children
• sex differences

Language dc:language.iso

en_ca

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14721/33165

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uwo.scholaris.ca:20.500.14721/33165