Longitudinal associations in adolescence between cortisol and persistent aggressive or rule-breaking behavior.
Although several studies have associated antisocial behavior with decreased cortisol awakening responses (CAR), studies in adolescent samples yielded inconsistent results. In adolescence however, the CAR develops and antisocial behavior is heterogeneous in type and persistence. Therefore this longitudinal study compared persistent aggressive and rule-breaking adolescents to low aggressive and rule-breaking adolescents on the development of the CAR from ages 15 to 17 (N=390). Persistently high aggressive adolescents showed decreased cortisol levels at awakening consistently over the years (Δχ(2)(1)=6.655, p=.01) as compared to low aggressive adolescents. No differences between adolescents showing persistent high rule-breaking and low rule-breaking were found. This longitudinal study is the first to show that persistent aggression, but not rule-breaking behavior, is related to neurobiological alterations. Moreover, despite development of the CAR over adolescence, the decrease in cortisol is consistent over time in persistent high aggressive adolescents, which is an important prerequisite for the prediction of persistent aggression.
VU University Medical Center, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, PO Box 303, 1115 ZG Duivendrecht, The Netherlands. e.platje@debascule.com
Evelien
E
Platje
Lucres M C
LM
Jansen
Adrian
A
Raine
Susan J T
SJ
Branje
Theo A H
TA
Doreleijers
Marjan
M
de Vries-Bouw
Arne
A
Popma
Pol A C
PA
van Lier
Hans M
HM
Koot
Wim H J
WH
Meeus
Robert R J M
RR
Vermeiren
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
D006854:Hydrocortisone