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Dev Psychopathol. 2012 Feb;24(1):211-23. doi: 10.1017/S0954579411000782.
The study examined the interaction between early maturational timing (measured by premature adrenarche [PA]) and executive functioning and cortisol reactivity on symptoms of psychopathology. The study included 76 girls aged 6 through 8 years (mean = 7.50, SD = 0.85) with PA (n = 40) and on-time adrenarche (n = 36). Girls completed a battery of psychological and neuropsychological tests and blood sampling for cortisol. Parents completed the Child Behavior Checklist. The results demonstrated that girls with PA with lower levels of executive functioning had higher externalizing and anxious symptoms compared to other girls. In addition, girls with PA who demonstrated increases in serum cortisol had higher externalizing symptoms than those with stable patterns. Finally, girls with PA who demonstrated decreases in cortisol reported higher depressive symptoms. The findings from this study provide important information concerning the impact of cognitive functioning and stress reactivity on adjustment to early maturation in girls with PA. The results of this research may inform screening and intervention efforts for girls who may be at greatest risk for emotional and behavioral problems as a result of early maturation.
这项研究考察了早期成熟时机(通过早熟肾上腺功能亢进[PA]来衡量)与执行功能以及皮质醇反应与精神病理学症状之间的相互作用。该研究包括 76 名年龄在 6 至 8 岁之间的女孩(平均= 7.50,标准差= 0.85),其中有 40 名女孩出现早熟肾上腺功能亢进,36 名女孩出现正常肾上腺功能亢进。女孩们完成了一系列心理和神经心理测试以及皮质醇血液采样。家长们则完成了儿童行为检查表。研究结果表明,与其他女孩相比,执行功能较低的 PA 女孩出现更多的外化症状和焦虑症状。此外,皮质醇水平升高的 PA 女孩出现更多的外化症状,而皮质醇水平稳定的女孩则没有。最后,皮质醇水平下降的 PA 女孩报告出现更多的抑郁症状。这项研究的结果提供了有关认知功能和应激反应对 PA 女孩早期成熟适应影响的重要信息。该研究结果可能为那些由于早期成熟而面临最大情绪和行为问题风险的女孩提供筛选和干预措施的信息。