Cited by 392Stress Responses and CortisolChild Abuse and TraumaPosttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Early-life adversity and cortisol response to social stress: a meta-analysis

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Bunea, Ioana Maria, Szentágotai-Tătar, Aurora, Miu, Andrei C.·2017·Translational Psychiatry

Abstract

Early-life adversity has been associated with a life-long increased risk for psychopathology and chronic health problems. These long-term negative effects have been explained through stress sensitization, which may involve dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis through either increased or decreased reactivity. The present meta-analysis assessed for the first time the effect of early-life adversity on cortisol response to social stress. Thirty data sets were included in the meta-analysis, in which early-life adversity and salivary cortisol response to social stress were assessed in 4292 individuals of different ages. Results indicated a moderate effect size (g = -0.39) in overall cortisol levels across studies. Separate analyses of cortisol at different stages of response showed large effect sizes at peak and recovery, and a moderate effect at baseline. Heterogeneity was large in this sample of studies and several moderators were identified. The effect size was larger in studies that focused on maltreatment compared to those that included other adversities, and in adults compared to children and adolescents. Percent of women in each sample and methodological quality were positive predictors of the effect size. Publication bias may be present, but the analysis was hampered by the high heterogeneity. Therefore, these results support the association between early-life adversity and blunted cortisol response to social stress, and they suggest that the long-term negative effects of early-life adversity may reach maximum levels in adults.

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  1. [21]Kudielka B. M., Hellhammer D. H., Kirschbaum C. in Social Neuroscience: Integrating Biological and Psychological Explanations of Social Behavior (eds Harmon-Jones E., Winkielman P.) 56-83 (Guilford Press, New York, NY, US, 2007).
  2. [26]Hedges L. V., Olkin I. Statistical Methods for Meta-analysis (Academic Press, Orlando, FL, USA, 1985).

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Authors
Bunea, I. M., Szentágotai-Tătar, A., & Miu, A. C.
Affiliations
Babeș-Bolyai University (RO)
Corresponding author
Miu, Andrei C.
Venue
Translational Psychiatry
Published
2017-12-11
Volume
7
Issue
12
Pages
1274-1274
ISSN
2158-3188 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2771364118
Cited by
392
References
62
Citations by year
2026: 42 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 52 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 43 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 16 · 2016: 1
FWCI
2.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Translational Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Unitatea Executiva pentru Finantarea Invatamantului Superior, a Cercetarii, Dezvoltarii si Inovarii (PN-III-P4-ID, PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016, PN-III-P4-ID-PCE-2016-0840)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
Keywords
childhood adversity, cortisol response, social stress, HPA axis dysregulation, stress sensitization, child abuse, blunted cortisol response, salivary cortisol, psychopathology, chronic disease
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Child, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Life Change Events, Middle Aged, Saliva, Stress, Psychological, Young Adult

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