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Research relating salivary cortisol levels with
internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in
youth has yielded inconsistent results, likely due to
the high day-to-day variation in stress regulation.
Understanding stability in this changing system may
require an analytical strategy that separates
variance in cortisol levels attributable to trait- or
"basal" versus state- or "situationally-specific"
sources. Early morning saliva samples were obtained
from 654 youth (range 6-16 yrs ) on two successive
days one year apart. Latent state trait modeling
revealed that 70% of the variance in cortisol levels
could be attributed to state-like sources, and 28% to
trait-like sources. Higher levels of externalizing
problems were consistently associated with lower
basal cortisol in boys. This finding is consistent
with studies of at-risk and clinical groups. The
present findings confirm the relationship spans both
normative and atypical child development, and
supports speculations that boys with low cortisol may
be at risk for externalizing behavior problems.
Info autore
Dr. Elizabeth Shirtcliff is a behavioral endocrinologist who
seeks to understand the developmental factors leading to
increased risk for psychopathology during adolescence. She is an
expert on developmental psychobiology and adolescent development.
Shirtcliff is an Assistant Professor at the University of New
Orleans.
