title: Investigating the association between early life parental care and stress responsivity in adulthood.
abstract: 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.
authors: Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. veronika.engert@mail.mcgill.ca
authors: Veronika
authors: V
authors: Engert
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Buss
authors: Najmeh
authors: N
authors: Khalili-Mahani
authors: Mehereen
authors: M
authors: Wadiwalla
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Dedovic
authors: Jens C
authors: JC
authors: Pruessner
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone