Journal
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Volume 155, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2020.107946
Keywords
Cortisol; Dehydroepiandrosterone; Children; Executive function; Chronic stress
Funding
- University of California Office of the President Multicampus Research Programs and Initiatives Award [MRP-17-454925]
- Oak Foundation [ORIO-16-012]
- National Science Foundation [NSF-1540854]
- NICHD [R01HD086168, R01HD096261, R01HD078351, R01HD094834, P50HD052120]
- UCSF Dyslexia Center, Ray & Lori dePole, Dyslexia Training Institute
- Potter Family
- ALTA
- San Mateo County of Education, IMBES
- SfN
- Hyde Park Day School
- University of Chicago Laboratory Schools
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Chronic stress during childhood negatively impacts cognition and physical and mental health. Exposure to stressors over time can cause hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation, leading to abnormal stress hormone levels, which can be reflected in hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and hair dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration. Although the use of HCC and DHEA to measure chronic stress in children is increasing, their effects on cognition (as indexed by executive function) remain unexplored. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the associations of HCC, DHEA, and their ratio with measures of executive function (cognitive flexibility and working memory) in a sample of kindergarten children (N=100). We found that the expected negative association between HCC and working memory approached significance, and DHEA was significantly and positively related to cognitive flexibility. We discuss possible interpretations of our findings. Our results suggest promising areas for future investigation and encourage further exploration into HCC and DHEA as measures of chronic stress.
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