Cortisol and externalizing behavior in children and adolescents: mixed meta-analytic evidence for the inverse relation of basal cortisol and cortisol reactivity with externalizing behavior.
An inverse relation between cortisol (re)activity and externalizing behavior has been hypothesized, but research findings seem equivocal. We tested this hypo(re)activity hypothesis in two meta-analyses, one for basal cortisol (k = 72 studies, N = 5,480) and one for cortisol reactivity to a stressor (k = 29 studies, N = 2,601). No association was found between cortisol reactivity and externalizing behaviors (r = -.04, 95% CI = -.11, .02). However, the relation between basal cortisol and externalizing behavior was significant but small (r = -.05, 95% CI = -.10, -.002). The age of the children significantly moderated this relation: Externalizing behavior was associated with higher basal cortisol (hyperactivity) in preschoolers (r = .09, 95% CI = .002, .17), and with lower basal cortisol (hypoactivity) in elementary school-aged children (r = -.14, 95% CI = -.19, -.08). There was no significant relation between cortisol and externalizing behavior in adolescents.
Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9500, 2300 RB, Leiden, The Netherlands. alinklra@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Lenneke R A
LR
Alink
Marinus H
MH
van Ijzendoorn
Marian J
MJ
Bakermans-Kranenburg
Judi
J
Mesman
Femmie
F
Juffer
Hans M
HM
Koot
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D012016:Reference Values
D006854:Hydrocortisone