Individual differences in biological stress responses moderate the contribution of early peer victimization to subsequent depressive symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Some children who are exposed to early peer victimization become depressed, whereas others are resilient. Understanding individual differences in responses to early adversity, such as victimization, is critical for developing both comprehensive theoretical models and effective interventions.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined whether individual differences in biological stress responses (i.e., activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system) moderated the contribution of peer victimization to depressive symptoms across a 1-year period.


METHODS
Children (N = 132; M age = 9.46 years, SD = 0.33) completed measures of peer victimization and depressive symptoms, and rated their ruminative responses (i.e., persistent thoughts about negative task-related emotion and experiences) to a laboratory-based social challenge task involving two conflict-of-interests situations with an unfamiliar peer. Children's saliva was collected prior to, and following, participation in the task, and was later assayed for cortisol and alpha amylase [sAA].


RESULTS
Victimization interacted with levels of cortisol measured in anticipation of the task to predict task-related rumination and depressive symptoms 1 year later, adjusting for initial symptoms. Specifically, victimization served as a risk factor for rumination and depressive symptoms in children with heightened but not dampened anticipatory cortisol; yet, heightened anticipatory cortisol was protective against rumination and depressive symptoms in low-victimized children. Victimization also predicted subsequent depressive symptoms in girls with high sAA reactivity across the task.


CONCLUSIONS
This study advances contemporary theory and research by implicating individual variation in biological stress responses as one determinant of sensitivity to the mental health effects of early adversity.
Rudolph
Karen D
KD
Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 603 E. Daniel St., Champaign, IL 61820, USA. krudolph@illinois.edu
Troop-Gordon
Wendy
W
Granger
Douglas A
DA
D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D058445:Bullying / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D000516:alpha-Amylases / Q000378:metabolism
D000516:alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone