title: Effect of social familiarity on salivary cortisol and self-reports of social anxiety and stress in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: This study examined the effect of social familiarity on salivary cortisol and social anxiety/stress for a sample of children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders. The relationship between self-reported social anxiety/stress and salivary cortisol was also examined. Participants interacted with a familiar peer on one occasion and an unfamiliar peer on another occasion. Data were collected using salivary cortisol and a scale measuring subjective stress. Results indicated a significant condition by order interaction for salivary cortisol levels, while self-rated stress did not differ significantly across situations. A mild-moderate correlation was found between self-reported distress and salivary cortisol within each condition. Examination of self-rated distress vs. cortisol scatter plots suggested a more complex relationship than the correlation coefficient could adequately convey.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260-1000, USA. cjlopata@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopata
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Volker
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Putnam
authors.forename: Marcus L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Thomeer
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Nida
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone