title: Harsh discipline and behavior problems: the moderating effects of cortisol and alpha-amylase.
abstract: Numerous studies link harsh discipline to adjustment problems in youth, yet not all individuals exposed to harsh discipline develop behavior problems. Contemporary theory suggests that this relationship could be moderated by individual differences in environmentally sensitive biological systems. This study investigated whether the interaction between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activity and autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal moderated the link between harsh discipline and behavior problems. Three saliva samples were collected on a single day from 425 inner city youth (50% male, age 11-12 years, 80% African American) and were later assayed for cortisol (HPA) and alpha-amylase (ANS). Problem behavior was assessed by self- and parent-report using the Child Behavior Checklist. Youth also reported the level of harsh discipline that they experienced. Harsh discipline was positively associated with externalizing and internalizing problems only when there were asymmetrical profiles of HPA activity and ANS arousal. This pattern was evident for boys but not girls. Findings are discussed in relation to prevailing theories suggesting that biological susceptibility translates adversity into risk for behavior problems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Criminology, University of Pennsylvania, USA. Electronic address: ruiyunch@sas.upenn.edu.
authors.forename: Frances R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Departments of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Raine
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rudo-Hutt
authors.affiliation: Center for the Prevention of Youth Behavior Problems, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Glenn
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Liana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soyfer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, Arizona State University; The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, and Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Granger
mesh_terms: D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D057566:Self Report; D012917:Social Adjustment
chemical_list: D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; Externalizing problems; Harsh discipline; Internalizing problems; Salivary alpha-amylase