Investigating the association between early life parental care and stress responsivity in adulthood.
We explored the associations between early life experience, endocrine regulation, psychological health, and hippocampal integrity in 37 elderly volunteers. Specifically, a neurodevelopmental and psychological mediation model was tested: Retrospective early life parental care was hypothesized to influence hippocampal integrity and the development of self-esteem. In turn, hippocampal volume (via modulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis negative feedback) and self-esteem (via modulation of stress vulnerability) were suggested to influence the cortisol stress response. Results supported the two-mediator model. We propose that early life parental care impacts on an individual's developing brain and personality, which consequently contribute to the shaping of neuroendocrine stress responsivity.
Engert
Veronika
V
Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. veronika.engert@mail.mcgill.ca
Buss
Claudia
C
Khalili-Mahani
Najmeh
N
Wadiwalla
Mehereen
M
Dedovic
Katarina
K
Pruessner
Jens C
JC
D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002648:Child; D002668:Child Rearing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012649:Self Concept; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D006854:Hydrocortisone