title: Pubertal maturation and cortisol level in response to a novel social environment among female adolescents.
abstract: Research indicates changes in HPA-axis activity across puberty. The current study extends existing work by evaluating pubertal status and cortisol level in a novel social environment (research laboratory) while controlling for several important biological, behavioral, and psychological variables. Participants were 30 girls (ages 9-16 years) from the United States. Pubertal status was assessed via the Pubertal Development Scale. Salivary samples were collected at laboratory-introduction and a matched at-home period; laboratory-introduction levels were regressed on basal cortisol levels to create standardized residual scores. After controlling for covariates, pubertal status was positively associated with residualized cortisol values. Findings indicate more advanced puberty related to greater cortisol response to the laboratory; data are discussed in terms of future research and building biopsychosocial models of the puberty-psychopathology linkage.
authors.affiliation: University of North Texas, Department of Psychology, United States. Electronic address: Heidemarie.Blumenthal@unt.edu.
authors.forename: Heidemarie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blumenthal
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas, Department of Psychological Science, United States.
authors.forename: Ellen W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Leen-Feldner
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas, Department of Psychological Science, United States.
authors.forename: Christal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Badour
authors.affiliation: Augustana College, Department of Psychology, United States.
authors.forename: Casey D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Trainor
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, United States; Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, United States.
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Babson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007753:Laboratories; D008016:Life Change Events; D011627:Puberty; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Adolescence; Cortisol; Girls; HPA-axis; Puberty; Vulnerability