Simons Sterre S H, Cillessen Antonius H N, de Weerth Carolina
a Developmental Psychology , Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.
Stress. 2017 Jan;20(1):52-58. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2016.1276165. Epub 2017 Jan 23.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning is characterized by the baseline production of cortisol following a circadian rhythm, as well as by the superimposed production of cortisol in response to a stressor. However, it is relatively unknown whether the basal cortisol circadian rhythm is associated with the cortisol stress response in children. Since alterations in cortisol stress responses have been associated with mental and physical health, this study investigated whether the cortisol circadian rhythm is associated with cortisol stress responses in 6-year-old children. To this end, 149 normally developing children (M = 6.09 years; 70 girls) participated in an innovative social evaluative stress test that effectively provoked increases in cortisol. To determine the cortisol stress response, six cortisol saliva samples were collected and two cortisol stress response indices were calculated: total stress cortisol and cortisol stress reactivity. To determine children's cortisol circadian rhythm eight cortisol circadian samples were collected during two days. Total diurnal cortisol and diurnal cortisol decline scores were calculated as indices of the cortisol circadian rhythm. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that higher total diurnal cortisol as well as a smaller diurnal cortisol decline, were both uniquely associated with higher total stress cortisol. No associations were found between the cortisol circadian rhythm indices and cortisol stress reactivity. Possible explanations for the patterns found are links with children's self-regulatory capacities and parenting quality.
下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺（HPA）轴的功能特点是，皮质醇的分泌遵循昼夜节律，且在应激源作用下会额外分泌皮质醇。然而，儿童基础皮质醇昼夜节律是否与皮质醇应激反应相关，目前尚不清楚。鉴于皮质醇应激反应的改变与身心健康有关，本研究调查了6岁儿童的皮质醇昼夜节律是否与皮质醇应激反应相关。为此，149名发育正常的儿童（平均年龄M = 6.09岁；70名女孩）参与了一项创新性的社会评价应激测试，该测试有效激发了皮质醇水平的升高。为了确定皮质醇应激反应，收集了6份唾液皮质醇样本，并计算了两个皮质醇应激反应指标：总应激皮质醇和皮质醇应激反应性。为了确定儿童的皮质醇昼夜节律，在两天内收集了8份皮质醇昼夜样本。计算了总昼夜皮质醇和昼夜皮质醇下降分数，作为皮质醇昼夜节律的指标。分层回归分析表明，较高的总昼夜皮质醇以及较小的昼夜皮质醇下降幅度，均与较高的总应激皮质醇存在独特关联。未发现皮质醇昼夜节律指标与皮质醇应激反应性之间存在关联。对所发现模式的可能解释是，这与儿童的自我调节能力和养育质量有关。
