Cited by 62Child Abuse and TraumaStress Responses and CortisolChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

HPA-axis activation as a key moderator of childhood trauma exposure and adolescent mental health

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Kuhlman, Kate R., Geiss, Elisa G., Vargas, Ivan, Lopez-Duran, Nestor·2018·Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology

Abstract

Individual differences in a child's sensitivity to stress may influence whether youth exposed to trauma develop symptoms of psychopathology. We examined the interaction between HPA-axis reactivity to an acute stressor and exposure to different types of childhood trauma as predictors of mental health symptoms in a sample of youth. Youth (n = 121, ages 9-16; 47% female) completed a standardized stress task, including 5 post-stress salivary cortisol samples. Parents also completed the Child Behavior Checklist as a measure of child internalizing and externalizing symptoms in the past month, and completed the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) as a measure of their child's trauma exposure. More emotional abuse and non-intentional trauma were associated with greater internalizing symptoms. Youth exposed to physical abuse who demonstrated slower HPA-axis reactivity had elevated internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Youth exposed to emotional abuse or non-intentional traumatic events who demonstrated faster HPA-axis reactivity had elevated internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Profiles of exaggerated or attenuated HPA-axis reactivity to acute stress may be risk factors for psychopathology in children facing different stressful social environments.

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Authors
Kuhlman, K. R., Geiss, E. G., Vargas, I., & Lopez-Duran, N.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Los Angeles (US)
  • The University of Olivet (US)
Corresponding author
Kuhlman, Kate R.
Venue
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology
Published
2017-02-18
Volume
46
Issue
1
Pages
149-157
ISSN
  • 0091-0627 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-2835
OpenAlex
W2588697840
Cited by
62
References
50
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
FWCI
3.72
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute of Mental Health (15750)
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation (1792.SAP)
  • American Psychological Foundation
  • Barbara A. Oleshansky Memorial Award
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
Keywords
HPA axis reactivity, childhood trauma, adolescent mental health, emotional abuse, physical abuse, internalizing problems, externalizing problems, salivary cortisol, acute stress response, stress sensitivity, psychopathology risk factors
MeSH terms
Psychological Trauma, Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Aggression, Anxiety, Behavioral Symptoms, Child, Child Abuse, Child Behavior, Depression, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System, Male, Pituitary-Adrenal System, Saliva, Stress, Psychological

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