A meta-analytic review of the association between cortisol reactivity in response to a stressor and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Open accessAbstract
A substantial literature suggests that abnormal cortisol reactivity may be a vulnerability for deleterious mental health outcomes, including ADHD. ADHD has been linked with difficulty in emotion regulation and increased risk of experiencing stressors, both of which may be related to psychobiological abnormalities (e.g., abnormal cortisol reactivity). Research has been mixed regarding the association between cortisol reactivity and ADHD. Therefore, the present meta-analytic review (k = 12) sought to quantify this association and review the relevant methodological issues and theoretical implications of this area of research. Overall, no effect was found between cortisol reactivity and ADHD (r = 0), although significant heterogeneity in the analyses suggested that there might be moderators of this association, if one does exist. Results highlight the importance of addressing limitations of the current literature on cortisol reactivity and ADHD and exploring additional indices of emotion regulation that may be associated with ADHD. Implications for future research efforts are discussed.
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A recent meta-analytic review found no significant association between ADHD diagnosis in childhood and variations in cortisol reactivity under controlled stress conditions.
“A recent meta-analytic review highlighted the complexity of this relationship, finding no significant association between ADHD diagnosis in childhood and variations in cortisol reactivity under controlled stress conditions11.”
From Exploring the impact of probiotics on adult ADHD management through a double-blind RCT (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
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References 66 · Cited by 26
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Rothstein HR Sutton AJ Borenstein M 2006 Publication bias in meta-analysis: Prevention, assessment and adjustments Wiley England
- Authors
- Kamradt, J. M., Momany, A. M., & Nikolas, M. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Iowa (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kamradt, Jaclyn M.
- Venue
- ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders
- Published
- 2017-09-05
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 99-111
- ISSN
- 1866-6116 (ISSN-L)
- 1866-6647
- PMC
- PMC5837926
- OpenAlex
- W2753457764
- Cited by
- 26
- References
- 66
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 1
- FWCI
- 2.00
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- ADHD Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (T32GM108540)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- cortisol response, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress response, emotion regulation, methodological limitations
- MeSH terms
- Adrenal Cortex Function Tests, Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Stress, Psychological
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