850 Columbia Ave, Department of Psychological Science, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA.
Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 20;9(1):13623. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49461-x.
The present study examined the counterintuitive hypothesis that externalizing behaviors such as aggression, although in many respects detrimental, may be functional and protect against the detrimental health consequences of early life adversity. In particular, in line with evolutionary models of development, we argue that externalizing problems moderate the association between chronic stress exposure and allostatic load, a biological marker of chronic physiological dysregulation. Prospective interactive effects of externalizing behaviors and cumulative risk (a confluence of multiple risk factors) on children's allostatic load were assessed in 260 children (46% female, baseline age = 9). Exposure to early life adversity was assessed at baseline using a cumulative risk index. Externalizing behaviors were reported by parents at baseline. Allostatic load was measured at baseline and at ages 13 and 17, using endocrine, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Results of linear-mixed effects models indicated that the association between cumulative risk and allostatic load was attenuated for adolescents who scored high on externalizing behaviors. Further examination of sex differences indicated that the findings were more pronounced among males than females.
本研究检验了一个反直觉的假设，即外部化行为（如攻击行为）虽然在许多方面是有害的，但可能具有功能性，并能预防早期生活逆境对健康的不利影响。具体而言，根据发展的进化模型，我们认为外部化问题可以调节慢性压力暴露与适应负荷之间的关联，适应负荷是慢性生理失调的生物标志物。在 260 名儿童（46%为女性，基线年龄=9 岁）中评估了外部化行为和累积风险（多种风险因素的汇聚）对儿童适应负荷的前瞻性交互影响。使用累积风险指数在基线时评估早期生活逆境的暴露情况。父母在基线时报告了外部化行为。使用内分泌、心血管和代谢参数在基线时以及在 13 岁和 17 岁时测量了适应负荷。线性混合效应模型的结果表明，对于在外部化行为方面得分较高的青少年，累积风险与适应负荷之间的关联减弱了。进一步的性别差异研究表明，这些发现对男性比女性更为明显。
