Elizabeth J. Susman - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Elizabeth J. Susman
Developmental Psychology, 2011
Pubertal development is a nonlinear process progressing from prepubescent beginnings through biol... more Pubertal development is a nonlinear process progressing from prepubescent beginnings through biological, physical, and psychological changes to full sexual maturity. To tether theoretical concepts of puberty with sophisticated longitudinal, analytical models capable of articulating pubertal development more accurately, we used nonlinear mixed-effects models to describe both the timing and tempo of pubertal development in the sample of 364 White boys and 373 White girls measured across 6 years as part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Individual differences in timing and tempo were extracted with models of logistic growth. Differential relations emerged for how boys' and girls' timing and tempo of development were related to physical characteristics (body mass index, height, and weight) and psychological outcomes (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and risky sexual behavior). Timing and tempo are associated in boys but not girls. Pubertal timing and tempo are particularly important for predicting psychological outcomes in girls but only sparsely related to boys' psychological outcomes. Results highlight the importance of considering the nonlinear nature of puberty and expand the repertoire of possibilities for examining important aspects of how and when pubertal processes contribute to development. Keywords puberty; tempo and timing; longitudinal analysis; nonlinear; growth modeling Puberty is a period of the life span marked by major psychological, endocrine, and physical changes that contribute to the metamorphosis of children into reproductively mature
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2017
The purpose was to examine whether the timing of puberty, indexed by breast development and pubic... more The purpose was to examine whether the timing of puberty, indexed by breast development and pubic hair development, was earlier for sexually abused females compared with a matched comparison group of nonabused females, controlling for key alternative confounds. A cohort of sexually abused females and matched comparisons was followed longitudinally at mean ages 11 through 20 years. Sexually abused participants (N = 84) were referred by protective services. Comparison participants (N = 89) were recruited to be comparable in terms of age, ethnicity, income level, family constellation, zip codes, and nonsexual trauma histories. Stage of puberty was indexed at each assessment by nurse and participant ratings of breast and pubic hair development using Tanner staging-the gold standard for assessing pubertal onset and development. Cumulative logit mixed models were used to estimate the association between sexual abuse status and the likelihood of transitioning from earlier to later Tanner s...
Development and Psychopathology, 2015
Throughout the life span, exposure to chronic stress such as child maltreatment is thought to con... more Throughout the life span, exposure to chronic stress such as child maltreatment is thought to contribute to future dysfunction of the stress response system (SRS) through the process of adaptive calibration. Dysfunction of the SRS is associated with numerous health and behavior problems, so it is important to understand under what conditions and what time frame adaptive calibration occurs. The present study tested for adaptive calibration of the SRS in a sample of maltreated (n = 303) and nonmaltreated (n = 151) youth during the important developmental period of adolescence. Data were used from Waves 2, 3, and 4 of a larger study of the consequences of maltreatment on health and well-being. At each time point, participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for Children and provided a baseline and four poststressor saliva samples to measure cortisol reactivity. Adaptive calibration was tested by performing a latent profile analysis using the five samples of salivary cortisol pro...
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2006
This study used a multiple physiological systems measurement approach to test the hypothesis that... more This study used a multiple physiological systems measurement approach to test the hypothesis that asymmetry between the major components of the psychobiology of stress is associated with atypical behavior in youth [Bauer, A.M., Quas, J.A., Boyce, W.T., 2002. Associations between physiological reactivity and children's behavior: advantages of a multisystem approach. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 23, 102-113]. Adolescents (N=67; ages 10-14; 52% male) provided 2 saliva samples before, and 4 samples after, a modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; Kirschbaum, C., Pirke, K., Hellhammer, D.H., 1993. The "Trier Social Stress Test": a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology 28, 76-81). Samples were assayed for cortisol (C) and alpha-amylase (A-A), a surrogate marker of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Parents/guardians and adolescents reported on adolescents' aggressive behavior. Both salivary A-A and C incr...
Development and Psychopathology, 2014
Prenatal cocaine exposure may affect developing stress response systems in youth, potentially cre... more Prenatal cocaine exposure may affect developing stress response systems in youth, potentially creating risk for substance use in adolescence. Further, pathways from prenatal risk to future substance use may differ for girls versus boys. The present longitudinal study examined multiple biobehavioral measures, including heart rate, blood pressure, emotion, and salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA), in response to a stressor in 193 low-income 14- to 17-year-olds, half of whom were prenatally cocaine exposed (PCE). Youth's lifetime substance use was assessed with self-report, interview, and urine toxicology/breathalyzer at Time 1 and at Time 2 (6–12 months later). PCE × Gender interactions were found predicting anxiety, anger, and sadness responses to the stressor, with PCE girls showing heightened responses as compared to PCE boys on these indicators. Stress Response × Gender interactions were found predicting Time 2 substance use in youth (controlling for Time 1 use) ...
PLoS ONE, 2014
Purpose: Pubertal dynamics plays an important role in physical and psychological development of c... more Purpose: Pubertal dynamics plays an important role in physical and psychological development of children and adolescents. We aim to provide reference ranges of plasma testosterone in a large longitudinal sample. Furthermore, we describe a measure of testosterone trajectories during adolescence that can be used in future investigations of development. Methods: We carried out longitudinal measurements of plasma testosterone in 2,216 samples obtained from 513 males (9 to 17 years of age) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We used integration of a model fitted to each participant's testosterone trajectory to calculate a measure of average exposure to testosterone over adolescence. We pooled these data with corresponding values reported in the literature to provide a reference range of testosterone levels in males between the ages of 6 and 19 years. Results: The average values of total testosterone in the ALSPAC sample range from 0.82 nmol/L (Standard Deviation [SD]: 0.09) at 9 years of age to 16.5 (SD: 2.65) nmol/L at 17 years of age; these values are congruent with other reports in the literature. The average exposure to testosterone is associated with different features of testosterone trajectories such as Peak Testosterone Change, Age at Peak Testosterone Change, and Testosterone at 17 years of age as well as the timing of the growth spurt during puberty. Conclusions: The average exposure to testosterone is a useful measure for future investigations using testosterone trajectories to examine pubertal dynamics.
Psychiatry Research, 2011
The purpose was to examine the associations between Morningness/Eveningness (M/E; a measure of sl... more The purpose was to examine the associations between Morningness/Eveningness (M/E; a measure of sleep-wake preference) and alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use as well as the interaction of M/E and pubertal timing. The data represent baseline measures from a longitudinal study examining the association of psychological functioning and smoking with reproductive and bone health in 262 adolescent girls (11-17 years). The primary measures used for this study were pubertal timing (measured by age at menarche), the Morningness/Eveningness scale, and substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana). Multiple group path modeling showed that there was a significant interaction between pubertal timing and M/E on cigarette use. The direction of the parameter estimates indicated that for the early and on-time groups, Evening preference was associated with more cigarette use. For the late timing group the association was not significant. The results point to the need to consider sleep preference as a characteristic that may increase risk for substance use in adolescents.
Pediatric Research, 1987
female and 2236 male adolescents, ranging in age from 9-18 years (89% from 14-16), were screened ... more female and 2236 male adolescents, ranging in age from 9-18 years (89% from 14-16), were screened for gonorrhea and syphilis on entry to a detention facility in New York City. The male prevalence rate for gonorrhea was 3%. for females 18.3%. and the rates for syphilis for males were 0.63% and for females. 2.5%. The rates of gonorrhea without penile or cervical discharge on physical examination were 2.1% for males and 10.9% for females. This high prevalence and the high frequency of presentation without physical signs of illness, indicate the desirability of screening high risk adolescents for these and other sexually transmitted diseases. Our data support the need for programs in detention facilities and, we believe, schools, to encourage use of barrier contraceptives to control gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, human papillomavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, and unwanted pregnancy, among others.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2010
There is strong evidence that early pubertal timing is associated with adolescent problem behavio... more There is strong evidence that early pubertal timing is associated with adolescent problem behaviors. However, there has been limited investigation of the mechanisms or developmental relationships. The present study examined longitudinal models incorporating pubertal timing, delinquency, and sexual activity in a sample of 454 adolescents (9-13 years old at enrollment; 47% females). Participants were seen for three assessments approximately 1 year apart. Characteristics of friendship networks (older friends, male friends, older male friends) were examined as mediators. Structural equation modeling was used to test these associations as well as temporal relationships between sexual activity and delinquency. Results showed that early pubertal timing at Time 1 was related to more sexual activity at Time 2, which was related to higher delinquency at Time 3, a trend mediation effect. None of the friendship variables mediated these associations. Gender or maltreatment status did not moderate the meditational pathways. The results also supported the temporal sequence of sexual activity preceding increases in delinquency. These findings reveal that early maturing adolescents may actively seek out opportunities to engage in sexual activity which appears to be risk for subsequent delinquency.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2007
Objective Two distinct conditions, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions and mate... more Objective Two distinct conditions, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions and maternal alcohol use, have been linked to preterm delivery. These conditions have also been cited as potential sequelae of childhood abuse. Studies have linked childhood abuse to increased rates of preterm delivery but mechanisms explaining this association are unclear. Methods This prospective study compared preterm birth rates across offspring born to mothers who were sexually abused in childhood (OA; N ¼ 67) and offspring born to nonabused comparison mothers (OC; N ¼ 56). Results Preterm delivery rates were higher for the OA group (Odds ¼ 2.80 AE 1.44, p < .05). Maternal prenatal alcohol use mediated this relationship, but HPA axis functioning did not. Heightened maternal cortisol was significantly related to preterm status, but only for the OC group. Conclusions Results support the hypothesis that childhood abuse is a risk-factor for preterm delivery, however pathways are likely different for women with and without histories of sexual abuse.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2011
The study examined whether psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with a disruptive beh... more The study examined whether psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD; n = 84) changed concentrations of cortisol and testosterone across a three-year follow-up when compared to a matched, non-clinical, healthy comparison (HC; n = 69) group,. Boys and girls (6 to 11 years) with a DBD were randomly assigned to one of two arms of a multi-method intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that children undergoing psychosocial intervention for a DBD experienced a significant decline in diurnal cortisol change over time (p < .05) when compared to the HC condition. However, boys with a DBD diagnosis had significantly lower mean cortisol concentrations prior to treatment (p < .05) and showed a significantly steeper increase in mean cortisol over time (p < .05) when compared to HC boys. Treatment effects for diurnal cortisol change were replicated in the boys-only analysis. No treatment effects were noted for testosterone in either analysis.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2011
Variations in adrenal and gonadal hormone profiles have been linked to increased rates of opposit... more Variations in adrenal and gonadal hormone profiles have been linked to increased rates of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). These relationships suggest that certain hormone profiles may be related to how well children respond to psychological treatments for ODD and CD. The current study assessed whether pre-treatment profiles of adrenal and gonadal hormones predicted response to psychological treatment of ODD and CD. One hundred five children, 6-11 years old, participating in a randomized, clinical trial provided samples for cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione. Diagnostic interviews of ODD and CD were administered up to three years post-treatment to track treatment response. Group-based trajectory modeling identified two trajectories of treatment response: 1) a Highresponse trajectory where children demonstrated lower rates of an ODD or CD diagnosis throughout follow-up, and 2) a Low-response trajectory where children demonstrated higher rates of an ODD or CD diagnosis throughout follow-up. Hierarchical logistic regression predicting treatment response demonstrated that children with higher pre-treatment concentrations of testosterone were four times more likely to be in the Low-response trajectory. No other significant relationship existed between pre-treatment hormone profiles and treatment response. These results suggest that higher concentrations of testosterone are related to how well children diagnosed with ODD or CD respond to psychological treatment over the course of three years.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009
Purpose-Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measu... more Purpose-Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measure of overweight, and overweight is associated with cortisol reactivity, indexed by heightened secretion of cortisol in response to a stressor. The current study uses a mediation model to examine the associations between symptoms of depression, cortisol reactivity and BMI in a cross-sectional study. Methods-Children (N=111) 8 to 13 years old and a parent completed structured interviews. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess symptoms of depression, and cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children was measured. Physical examinations were used to determine BMI (kg/m 2) and pubertal stage. Results-Depression was positively associated with BMI in both sexes. Age and pubertal stage were not significantly associated with BMI, nor was physical activity and BMI in a model including depression. In girls, but not in boys, the association between depression and BMI was mediated by cortisol reactivity. Conclusions-The current findings attest to the significance of psychological states as potential components in models of childhood obesity, and provide conceptual and empirical support for the inclusion of cortisol reactivity in these models.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2013
Osteoporosis is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, but its roots are traceable to periods... more Osteoporosis is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, but its roots are traceable to periods of growth, including during adolescence. Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults. These associations have not been studied longitudinally across adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. Methods: To determine the impact of depressive and anxiety symptoms, smoking, and alcohol use on bone accrual in girls 11e19 years, 262 healthy girls were enrolled in age cohorts of 11, 13, 15, and 17 years. Using a cross-sequential design, girls were seen for three annual visits. Outcome measures included total body bone mineral content and BMD of the total hip and lumbar spine using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Depressive and anxiety symptoms and smoking and alcohol use were by self-report. Results: Higher-frequency smoking was associated with a lower rate of lumbar spine and total hip BMD accrual from ages 13e19. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower lumbar spine BMD across 11e19 years of age. There was no effect of depressive symptoms on total body bone mineral content, and there was no effect of alcohol intake on any bone outcome. Conclusion: Adolescent smokers are at higher risk for less than optimal bone accrual. Even in the absence of diagnosable depression, depressive symptoms may influence adolescent bone accrual. These findings have import for prevention of later osteoporosis and fractures.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2011
PURPOSE-The purpose of the study was to examine (a) the association between depressive and anxiet... more PURPOSE-The purpose of the study was to examine (a) the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone health, (b) the association of smoking or alcohol use with bone health, and, in turn, (c) whether the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone health varied by smoking or alcohol use individually or by combined use. Bone health included total body bone mineral content (TB BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck. Previous literature has not examined these issues in adolescence, a time when more than 50% of bone mass is accrued. METHODS-An observational study enrolled 262 healthy adolescent girls by age cohort (11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Participants completed questionnaires and interviews on substance use, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. BMC and BMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS-Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower TB BMC and BMD (total hip, femoral neck). Those with the lowest level of smoking had higher BMD of the hip and femoral neck whereas no differences were noted by alcohol use. Regular users of both cigarettes and alcohol demonstrated a stronger negative association between depressive symptoms and TB BMC compared with non-users/experimental users and regular alcohol users. Findings were parallel for anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION-Depressive and anxiety symptoms may negatively influence bone health in adolescent girls. Consideration of multiple substances, rather than cigarettes or alcohol separately, may be particularly informative with respect to the association of depression with bone health.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009
Purpose-To examine the differences in depressive symptoms and anxiety between (a) normal weight a... more Purpose-To examine the differences in depressive symptoms and anxiety between (a) normal weight and overweight, and (b) morning type and evening type (sleep chronotype) adolescent girls. The interaction of sleep chronotype and weight and depressive symptoms and anxiety were also examined. Method-The design consisted of a cross-sectional study of 264 adolescent females (mean age= 14.9 ± 2.2, range 11-17 years). Sleep chronotype, depressive symptoms, and anxiety were obtained by self-report questionnaire. The mean of three measurements of height and weight was used to calculate the body mass index (BMI). BMI was plotted on the CDC BMI-forage growth charts to obtain percentile ranking. Participants were categorized into two groups according to BMI percentile: normal weight (<85th percentile) and overweight (≥85th percentile). Results-Compared with normal-weight females, overweight females were more likely to be non-Caucasian, lower socioeconomic status, have more advanced pubic hair and breast stages, and earlier age at menarche. No differences were observed with respect to sleep chronotype, depressive symptoms, and trait anxiety between normal weight and overweight females. Evening chronotype was associated with more depressive symptoms (β = −.65, p < .01) and higher trait anxiety (β =−.22, p < .05). Evening chronotype was associated with more depressive symptoms in both normal-weight and overweight females. However, the association was stronger in overweight females. Conclusions-Individually, sleep and weight impact physical and mental health during adolescence. The combination of evening chronotype and overweight appears to have the strongest association on the emotional health of adolescent females. Further investigations are needed to provide potential biological mechanisms for this relationship.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012
Purpose-The purpose of this report is to examine the effect of exposure to violence on cortisol r... more Purpose-The purpose of this report is to examine the effect of exposure to violence on cortisol reactivity in children with no identified serious mental health problems or reports of maltreatment. Exposure to violence was hypothesized to influence development of the stress system in this sample of youth as has been demonstrated in maltreated youth. Methods-The sample consisted of 124 adolescents, ages 8 to 13 years. Data were collected at two waves of measurement, 12 months apart. Exposure to violence was operationalized as the number of different violent events each child was exposed to as a witness or victim. Cortisol reactivity was evaluated in relation to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children. Results-Exposure to violence occurring over the 12 months prior to the first assessment is predictive of cortisol reactivity 12 months later in males, even after controlling for age and Time 1 symptoms of psychopathology, cortisol reactivity, and lifetime exposure to violence. Lifetime exposure to violence at Time 1 is positively correlated with symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in both sexes. Conclusions-The unique aspect of the current findings is that typically, research studying the effects of exposure to violence is conducted with a clinical or maltreated sample. The findings show that recent exposure to violence has an effect on reactions to a laboratory stressor and has longer-term negative mental health consequences. Further study is needed to determine whether these effects are enduring or a shorter-term adaptive response to exposure to violence.
Developmental Psychology, 2013
Objective-Age at menarche is critical in research and clinical settings, yet there is a dearth of... more Objective-Age at menarche is critical in research and clinical settings, yet there is a dearth of studies examining its reliability in adolescents. We examined age at menarche during adolescence, specifically, 1) average method reliability across three years, 2) test-retest reliability between time points and methods, 3) intra-individual variability of reports, and 4) whether intraindividual variability differed by setting or individual characteristics. Methods-Girls (n = 253) were enrolled in a cross-sequential study in age cohorts (11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Age at menarche was assessed using three annual, in-person clinician interviews followed by nine quarterly phone interviews conducted by research assistants. Results-Reliability of age at menarche across time was moderate and varied by method. Inperson interviews showed greater reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = .77)] versus phone interviews (ICC = .64). Test-retest reliability in reports did not decrease across time. However, average differences in reported age varied as much as 2.3 years (SD = 2.2 years), with approximately 9% demonstrating differences greater than 4.5 years. Pubertal timing category (i.e., early, late) changed for 22.7% if categorized at the final versus the first report of age at menarche. Conclusions-Reliability was moderate, but average differences in reported age are notable and concerning. Using in-person clinician interviews may enhance reliability. Researchers and clinicians should be cognizant of the implications of using different methods measuring age at menarche when interpreting research findings.
Biological Psychology, 2009
Hormone differences by psychopathology group and gender may have implications for understanding d... more Hormone differences by psychopathology group and gender may have implications for understanding disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) and complexities of treatment outcomes. Current theoretical models emphasize contextual differences as moderators of hormone-behavior relations. This report examined: a) hormone differences in youth with and without DBD, and b) contextual factors as moderators of behavior problems and hormones. 180 children and adolescents were enrolled (141 boys, mean 9.0 ± 1.7 years). DBD participants met criteria for conduct disorder (CD) and/or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (n = 111); 69 were recruited as healthy comparisons (HC). Saliva was collected for testosterone, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione. DBD youth had significantly higher androstenedione than the HC group. There was a group by gender interaction for basal cortisol mean with DBD boys and HC girls having lower cortisol. Moderating effects of contextual variables (e.g., family functioning, delinquent peers) were noted for cortisol and adrenal androgens. Findings argue for considering hormones as an influence on DBD beyond simple direct one-to one associations.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2008
To examine (1) the association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone mass and density in a... more To examine (1) the association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone mass and density in adolescent girls and (2) to examine this association in subgroups of those who have ever or never smoked. Design: Prospective study using baseline reports. Setting: Urban teenage health center and the community. Participants: Two hundred seven girls (aged 11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Outcome Measures: Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) of the hip, spine, and total body determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Independent variables included self-report depressive symptoms, anxiety, and smoking history. Results: Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower total body BMC and BMD but not hip or spine BMC and BMD. Only in white adolescents was higher state anxiety associated with lower total body BMC and hip BMC and BMD. Ever-smokers were not significantly different than never-smokers in age-adjusted BMC or BMD, but they had higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. Although no significant depression or anxiety by smoking group interactions were found, subgroup analyses suggest that in ever-smokers, higher trait anxiety was related to lower total body BMC. Conclusions: This is the first study to report that higher depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with lower total body BMC during adolescence in girls. Knowing that this association is present at a young age is worrisome, as peak bone mass is attained in adolescence. Findings may aid in identifying girls who are at risk for low bone mass and developing intervention/prevention strategies during adolescence. Importantly, mechanisms that explain these associations and the effect of smoking on bone health need longitudinal examination.
Developmental Psychology, 2011
Pubertal development is a nonlinear process progressing from prepubescent beginnings through biol... more Pubertal development is a nonlinear process progressing from prepubescent beginnings through biological, physical, and psychological changes to full sexual maturity. To tether theoretical concepts of puberty with sophisticated longitudinal, analytical models capable of articulating pubertal development more accurately, we used nonlinear mixed-effects models to describe both the timing and tempo of pubertal development in the sample of 364 White boys and 373 White girls measured across 6 years as part of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development. Individual differences in timing and tempo were extracted with models of logistic growth. Differential relations emerged for how boys' and girls' timing and tempo of development were related to physical characteristics (body mass index, height, and weight) and psychological outcomes (internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and risky sexual behavior). Timing and tempo are associated in boys but not girls. Pubertal timing and tempo are particularly important for predicting psychological outcomes in girls but only sparsely related to boys' psychological outcomes. Results highlight the importance of considering the nonlinear nature of puberty and expand the repertoire of possibilities for examining important aspects of how and when pubertal processes contribute to development. Keywords puberty; tempo and timing; longitudinal analysis; nonlinear; growth modeling Puberty is a period of the life span marked by major psychological, endocrine, and physical changes that contribute to the metamorphosis of children into reproductively mature
The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine, 2017
The purpose was to examine whether the timing of puberty, indexed by breast development and pubic... more The purpose was to examine whether the timing of puberty, indexed by breast development and pubic hair development, was earlier for sexually abused females compared with a matched comparison group of nonabused females, controlling for key alternative confounds. A cohort of sexually abused females and matched comparisons was followed longitudinally at mean ages 11 through 20 years. Sexually abused participants (N = 84) were referred by protective services. Comparison participants (N = 89) were recruited to be comparable in terms of age, ethnicity, income level, family constellation, zip codes, and nonsexual trauma histories. Stage of puberty was indexed at each assessment by nurse and participant ratings of breast and pubic hair development using Tanner staging-the gold standard for assessing pubertal onset and development. Cumulative logit mixed models were used to estimate the association between sexual abuse status and the likelihood of transitioning from earlier to later Tanner s...
Development and Psychopathology, 2015
Throughout the life span, exposure to chronic stress such as child maltreatment is thought to con... more Throughout the life span, exposure to chronic stress such as child maltreatment is thought to contribute to future dysfunction of the stress response system (SRS) through the process of adaptive calibration. Dysfunction of the SRS is associated with numerous health and behavior problems, so it is important to understand under what conditions and what time frame adaptive calibration occurs. The present study tested for adaptive calibration of the SRS in a sample of maltreated (n = 303) and nonmaltreated (n = 151) youth during the important developmental period of adolescence. Data were used from Waves 2, 3, and 4 of a larger study of the consequences of maltreatment on health and well-being. At each time point, participants underwent the Trier Social Stress Test for Children and provided a baseline and four poststressor saliva samples to measure cortisol reactivity. Adaptive calibration was tested by performing a latent profile analysis using the five samples of salivary cortisol pro...
Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2006
This study used a multiple physiological systems measurement approach to test the hypothesis that... more This study used a multiple physiological systems measurement approach to test the hypothesis that asymmetry between the major components of the psychobiology of stress is associated with atypical behavior in youth [Bauer, A.M., Quas, J.A., Boyce, W.T., 2002. Associations between physiological reactivity and children's behavior: advantages of a multisystem approach. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 23, 102-113]. Adolescents (N=67; ages 10-14; 52% male) provided 2 saliva samples before, and 4 samples after, a modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; Kirschbaum, C., Pirke, K., Hellhammer, D.H., 1993. The "Trier Social Stress Test": a tool for investigating psychobiological stress responses in a laboratory setting. Neuropsychobiology 28, 76-81). Samples were assayed for cortisol (C) and alpha-amylase (A-A), a surrogate marker of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Parents/guardians and adolescents reported on adolescents' aggressive behavior. Both salivary A-A and C incr...
Development and Psychopathology, 2014
Prenatal cocaine exposure may affect developing stress response systems in youth, potentially cre... more Prenatal cocaine exposure may affect developing stress response systems in youth, potentially creating risk for substance use in adolescence. Further, pathways from prenatal risk to future substance use may differ for girls versus boys. The present longitudinal study examined multiple biobehavioral measures, including heart rate, blood pressure, emotion, and salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA), in response to a stressor in 193 low-income 14- to 17-year-olds, half of whom were prenatally cocaine exposed (PCE). Youth's lifetime substance use was assessed with self-report, interview, and urine toxicology/breathalyzer at Time 1 and at Time 2 (6–12 months later). PCE × Gender interactions were found predicting anxiety, anger, and sadness responses to the stressor, with PCE girls showing heightened responses as compared to PCE boys on these indicators. Stress Response × Gender interactions were found predicting Time 2 substance use in youth (controlling for Time 1 use) ...
PLoS ONE, 2014
Purpose: Pubertal dynamics plays an important role in physical and psychological development of c... more Purpose: Pubertal dynamics plays an important role in physical and psychological development of children and adolescents. We aim to provide reference ranges of plasma testosterone in a large longitudinal sample. Furthermore, we describe a measure of testosterone trajectories during adolescence that can be used in future investigations of development. Methods: We carried out longitudinal measurements of plasma testosterone in 2,216 samples obtained from 513 males (9 to 17 years of age) from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. We used integration of a model fitted to each participant's testosterone trajectory to calculate a measure of average exposure to testosterone over adolescence. We pooled these data with corresponding values reported in the literature to provide a reference range of testosterone levels in males between the ages of 6 and 19 years. Results: The average values of total testosterone in the ALSPAC sample range from 0.82 nmol/L (Standard Deviation [SD]: 0.09) at 9 years of age to 16.5 (SD: 2.65) nmol/L at 17 years of age; these values are congruent with other reports in the literature. The average exposure to testosterone is associated with different features of testosterone trajectories such as Peak Testosterone Change, Age at Peak Testosterone Change, and Testosterone at 17 years of age as well as the timing of the growth spurt during puberty. Conclusions: The average exposure to testosterone is a useful measure for future investigations using testosterone trajectories to examine pubertal dynamics.
Psychiatry Research, 2011
The purpose was to examine the associations between Morningness/Eveningness (M/E; a measure of sl... more The purpose was to examine the associations between Morningness/Eveningness (M/E; a measure of sleep-wake preference) and alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use as well as the interaction of M/E and pubertal timing. The data represent baseline measures from a longitudinal study examining the association of psychological functioning and smoking with reproductive and bone health in 262 adolescent girls (11-17 years). The primary measures used for this study were pubertal timing (measured by age at menarche), the Morningness/Eveningness scale, and substance use (alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana). Multiple group path modeling showed that there was a significant interaction between pubertal timing and M/E on cigarette use. The direction of the parameter estimates indicated that for the early and on-time groups, Evening preference was associated with more cigarette use. For the late timing group the association was not significant. The results point to the need to consider sleep preference as a characteristic that may increase risk for substance use in adolescents.
Pediatric Research, 1987
female and 2236 male adolescents, ranging in age from 9-18 years (89% from 14-16), were screened ... more female and 2236 male adolescents, ranging in age from 9-18 years (89% from 14-16), were screened for gonorrhea and syphilis on entry to a detention facility in New York City. The male prevalence rate for gonorrhea was 3%. for females 18.3%. and the rates for syphilis for males were 0.63% and for females. 2.5%. The rates of gonorrhea without penile or cervical discharge on physical examination were 2.1% for males and 10.9% for females. This high prevalence and the high frequency of presentation without physical signs of illness, indicate the desirability of screening high risk adolescents for these and other sexually transmitted diseases. Our data support the need for programs in detention facilities and, we believe, schools, to encourage use of barrier contraceptives to control gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, human papillomavirus, human immunodeficiency virus, and unwanted pregnancy, among others.
Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2010
There is strong evidence that early pubertal timing is associated with adolescent problem behavio... more There is strong evidence that early pubertal timing is associated with adolescent problem behaviors. However, there has been limited investigation of the mechanisms or developmental relationships. The present study examined longitudinal models incorporating pubertal timing, delinquency, and sexual activity in a sample of 454 adolescents (9-13 years old at enrollment; 47% females). Participants were seen for three assessments approximately 1 year apart. Characteristics of friendship networks (older friends, male friends, older male friends) were examined as mediators. Structural equation modeling was used to test these associations as well as temporal relationships between sexual activity and delinquency. Results showed that early pubertal timing at Time 1 was related to more sexual activity at Time 2, which was related to higher delinquency at Time 3, a trend mediation effect. None of the friendship variables mediated these associations. Gender or maltreatment status did not moderate the meditational pathways. The results also supported the temporal sequence of sexual activity preceding increases in delinquency. These findings reveal that early maturing adolescents may actively seek out opportunities to engage in sexual activity which appears to be risk for subsequent delinquency.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2007
Objective Two distinct conditions, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions and mate... more Objective Two distinct conditions, Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis disruptions and maternal alcohol use, have been linked to preterm delivery. These conditions have also been cited as potential sequelae of childhood abuse. Studies have linked childhood abuse to increased rates of preterm delivery but mechanisms explaining this association are unclear. Methods This prospective study compared preterm birth rates across offspring born to mothers who were sexually abused in childhood (OA; N ¼ 67) and offspring born to nonabused comparison mothers (OC; N ¼ 56). Results Preterm delivery rates were higher for the OA group (Odds ¼ 2.80 AE 1.44, p < .05). Maternal prenatal alcohol use mediated this relationship, but HPA axis functioning did not. Heightened maternal cortisol was significantly related to preterm status, but only for the OC group. Conclusions Results support the hypothesis that childhood abuse is a risk-factor for preterm delivery, however pathways are likely different for women with and without histories of sexual abuse.
Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 2011
The study examined whether psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with a disruptive beh... more The study examined whether psychosocial intervention for children diagnosed with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD; n = 84) changed concentrations of cortisol and testosterone across a three-year follow-up when compared to a matched, non-clinical, healthy comparison (HC; n = 69) group,. Boys and girls (6 to 11 years) with a DBD were randomly assigned to one of two arms of a multi-method intervention. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed that children undergoing psychosocial intervention for a DBD experienced a significant decline in diurnal cortisol change over time (p < .05) when compared to the HC condition. However, boys with a DBD diagnosis had significantly lower mean cortisol concentrations prior to treatment (p < .05) and showed a significantly steeper increase in mean cortisol over time (p < .05) when compared to HC boys. Treatment effects for diurnal cortisol change were replicated in the boys-only analysis. No treatment effects were noted for testosterone in either analysis.
Journal of Child and Family Studies, 2011
Variations in adrenal and gonadal hormone profiles have been linked to increased rates of opposit... more Variations in adrenal and gonadal hormone profiles have been linked to increased rates of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). These relationships suggest that certain hormone profiles may be related to how well children respond to psychological treatments for ODD and CD. The current study assessed whether pre-treatment profiles of adrenal and gonadal hormones predicted response to psychological treatment of ODD and CD. One hundred five children, 6-11 years old, participating in a randomized, clinical trial provided samples for cortisol, testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, and androstenedione. Diagnostic interviews of ODD and CD were administered up to three years post-treatment to track treatment response. Group-based trajectory modeling identified two trajectories of treatment response: 1) a Highresponse trajectory where children demonstrated lower rates of an ODD or CD diagnosis throughout follow-up, and 2) a Low-response trajectory where children demonstrated higher rates of an ODD or CD diagnosis throughout follow-up. Hierarchical logistic regression predicting treatment response demonstrated that children with higher pre-treatment concentrations of testosterone were four times more likely to be in the Low-response trajectory. No other significant relationship existed between pre-treatment hormone profiles and treatment response. These results suggest that higher concentrations of testosterone are related to how well children diagnosed with ODD or CD respond to psychological treatment over the course of three years.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009
Purpose-Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measu... more Purpose-Depression in childhood is associated with higher body mass index (BMI), a relative measure of overweight, and overweight is associated with cortisol reactivity, indexed by heightened secretion of cortisol in response to a stressor. The current study uses a mediation model to examine the associations between symptoms of depression, cortisol reactivity and BMI in a cross-sectional study. Methods-Children (N=111) 8 to 13 years old and a parent completed structured interviews. The Child Behavior Checklist was used to assess symptoms of depression, and cortisol reactivity to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children was measured. Physical examinations were used to determine BMI (kg/m 2) and pubertal stage. Results-Depression was positively associated with BMI in both sexes. Age and pubertal stage were not significantly associated with BMI, nor was physical activity and BMI in a model including depression. In girls, but not in boys, the association between depression and BMI was mediated by cortisol reactivity. Conclusions-The current findings attest to the significance of psychological states as potential components in models of childhood obesity, and provide conceptual and empirical support for the inclusion of cortisol reactivity in these models.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2013
Osteoporosis is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, but its roots are traceable to periods... more Osteoporosis is primarily evident in postmenopausal women, but its roots are traceable to periods of growth, including during adolescence. Depression, anxiety, and smoking are associated with lower bone mineral density (BMD) in adults. These associations have not been studied longitudinally across adolescence, when more than 50% of bone accrual occurs. Methods: To determine the impact of depressive and anxiety symptoms, smoking, and alcohol use on bone accrual in girls 11e19 years, 262 healthy girls were enrolled in age cohorts of 11, 13, 15, and 17 years. Using a cross-sequential design, girls were seen for three annual visits. Outcome measures included total body bone mineral content and BMD of the total hip and lumbar spine using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Depressive and anxiety symptoms and smoking and alcohol use were by self-report. Results: Higher-frequency smoking was associated with a lower rate of lumbar spine and total hip BMD accrual from ages 13e19. Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower lumbar spine BMD across 11e19 years of age. There was no effect of depressive symptoms on total body bone mineral content, and there was no effect of alcohol intake on any bone outcome. Conclusion: Adolescent smokers are at higher risk for less than optimal bone accrual. Even in the absence of diagnosable depression, depressive symptoms may influence adolescent bone accrual. These findings have import for prevention of later osteoporosis and fractures.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2011
PURPOSE-The purpose of the study was to examine (a) the association between depressive and anxiet... more PURPOSE-The purpose of the study was to examine (a) the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone health, (b) the association of smoking or alcohol use with bone health, and, in turn, (c) whether the association between depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone health varied by smoking or alcohol use individually or by combined use. Bone health included total body bone mineral content (TB BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, total hip, and femoral neck. Previous literature has not examined these issues in adolescence, a time when more than 50% of bone mass is accrued. METHODS-An observational study enrolled 262 healthy adolescent girls by age cohort (11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Participants completed questionnaires and interviews on substance use, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. BMC and BMD were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS-Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower TB BMC and BMD (total hip, femoral neck). Those with the lowest level of smoking had higher BMD of the hip and femoral neck whereas no differences were noted by alcohol use. Regular users of both cigarettes and alcohol demonstrated a stronger negative association between depressive symptoms and TB BMC compared with non-users/experimental users and regular alcohol users. Findings were parallel for anxiety symptoms. CONCLUSION-Depressive and anxiety symptoms may negatively influence bone health in adolescent girls. Consideration of multiple substances, rather than cigarettes or alcohol separately, may be particularly informative with respect to the association of depression with bone health.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2009
Purpose-To examine the differences in depressive symptoms and anxiety between (a) normal weight a... more Purpose-To examine the differences in depressive symptoms and anxiety between (a) normal weight and overweight, and (b) morning type and evening type (sleep chronotype) adolescent girls. The interaction of sleep chronotype and weight and depressive symptoms and anxiety were also examined. Method-The design consisted of a cross-sectional study of 264 adolescent females (mean age= 14.9 ± 2.2, range 11-17 years). Sleep chronotype, depressive symptoms, and anxiety were obtained by self-report questionnaire. The mean of three measurements of height and weight was used to calculate the body mass index (BMI). BMI was plotted on the CDC BMI-forage growth charts to obtain percentile ranking. Participants were categorized into two groups according to BMI percentile: normal weight (<85th percentile) and overweight (≥85th percentile). Results-Compared with normal-weight females, overweight females were more likely to be non-Caucasian, lower socioeconomic status, have more advanced pubic hair and breast stages, and earlier age at menarche. No differences were observed with respect to sleep chronotype, depressive symptoms, and trait anxiety between normal weight and overweight females. Evening chronotype was associated with more depressive symptoms (β = −.65, p < .01) and higher trait anxiety (β =−.22, p < .05). Evening chronotype was associated with more depressive symptoms in both normal-weight and overweight females. However, the association was stronger in overweight females. Conclusions-Individually, sleep and weight impact physical and mental health during adolescence. The combination of evening chronotype and overweight appears to have the strongest association on the emotional health of adolescent females. Further investigations are needed to provide potential biological mechanisms for this relationship.
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012
Purpose-The purpose of this report is to examine the effect of exposure to violence on cortisol r... more Purpose-The purpose of this report is to examine the effect of exposure to violence on cortisol reactivity in children with no identified serious mental health problems or reports of maltreatment. Exposure to violence was hypothesized to influence development of the stress system in this sample of youth as has been demonstrated in maltreated youth. Methods-The sample consisted of 124 adolescents, ages 8 to 13 years. Data were collected at two waves of measurement, 12 months apart. Exposure to violence was operationalized as the number of different violent events each child was exposed to as a witness or victim. Cortisol reactivity was evaluated in relation to the Trier Social Stress Test for Children. Results-Exposure to violence occurring over the 12 months prior to the first assessment is predictive of cortisol reactivity 12 months later in males, even after controlling for age and Time 1 symptoms of psychopathology, cortisol reactivity, and lifetime exposure to violence. Lifetime exposure to violence at Time 1 is positively correlated with symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in both sexes. Conclusions-The unique aspect of the current findings is that typically, research studying the effects of exposure to violence is conducted with a clinical or maltreated sample. The findings show that recent exposure to violence has an effect on reactions to a laboratory stressor and has longer-term negative mental health consequences. Further study is needed to determine whether these effects are enduring or a shorter-term adaptive response to exposure to violence.
Developmental Psychology, 2013
Objective-Age at menarche is critical in research and clinical settings, yet there is a dearth of... more Objective-Age at menarche is critical in research and clinical settings, yet there is a dearth of studies examining its reliability in adolescents. We examined age at menarche during adolescence, specifically, 1) average method reliability across three years, 2) test-retest reliability between time points and methods, 3) intra-individual variability of reports, and 4) whether intraindividual variability differed by setting or individual characteristics. Methods-Girls (n = 253) were enrolled in a cross-sequential study in age cohorts (11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Age at menarche was assessed using three annual, in-person clinician interviews followed by nine quarterly phone interviews conducted by research assistants. Results-Reliability of age at menarche across time was moderate and varied by method. Inperson interviews showed greater reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = .77)] versus phone interviews (ICC = .64). Test-retest reliability in reports did not decrease across time. However, average differences in reported age varied as much as 2.3 years (SD = 2.2 years), with approximately 9% demonstrating differences greater than 4.5 years. Pubertal timing category (i.e., early, late) changed for 22.7% if categorized at the final versus the first report of age at menarche. Conclusions-Reliability was moderate, but average differences in reported age are notable and concerning. Using in-person clinician interviews may enhance reliability. Researchers and clinicians should be cognizant of the implications of using different methods measuring age at menarche when interpreting research findings.
Biological Psychology, 2009
Hormone differences by psychopathology group and gender may have implications for understanding d... more Hormone differences by psychopathology group and gender may have implications for understanding disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) and complexities of treatment outcomes. Current theoretical models emphasize contextual differences as moderators of hormone-behavior relations. This report examined: a) hormone differences in youth with and without DBD, and b) contextual factors as moderators of behavior problems and hormones. 180 children and adolescents were enrolled (141 boys, mean 9.0 ± 1.7 years). DBD participants met criteria for conduct disorder (CD) and/or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) (n = 111); 69 were recruited as healthy comparisons (HC). Saliva was collected for testosterone, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione. DBD youth had significantly higher androstenedione than the HC group. There was a group by gender interaction for basal cortisol mean with DBD boys and HC girls having lower cortisol. Moderating effects of contextual variables (e.g., family functioning, delinquent peers) were noted for cortisol and adrenal androgens. Findings argue for considering hormones as an influence on DBD beyond simple direct one-to one associations.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 2008
To examine (1) the association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone mass and density in a... more To examine (1) the association of depressive and anxiety symptoms with bone mass and density in adolescent girls and (2) to examine this association in subgroups of those who have ever or never smoked. Design: Prospective study using baseline reports. Setting: Urban teenage health center and the community. Participants: Two hundred seven girls (aged 11, 13, 15, and 17 years). Outcome Measures: Bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC) of the hip, spine, and total body determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Independent variables included self-report depressive symptoms, anxiety, and smoking history. Results: Higher depressive symptoms were associated with lower total body BMC and BMD but not hip or spine BMC and BMD. Only in white adolescents was higher state anxiety associated with lower total body BMC and hip BMC and BMD. Ever-smokers were not significantly different than never-smokers in age-adjusted BMC or BMD, but they had higher depressive and anxiety symptoms. Although no significant depression or anxiety by smoking group interactions were found, subgroup analyses suggest that in ever-smokers, higher trait anxiety was related to lower total body BMC. Conclusions: This is the first study to report that higher depressive and anxiety symptoms are associated with lower total body BMC during adolescence in girls. Knowing that this association is present at a young age is worrisome, as peak bone mass is attained in adolescence. Findings may aid in identifying girls who are at risk for low bone mass and developing intervention/prevention strategies during adolescence. Importantly, mechanisms that explain these associations and the effect of smoking on bone health need longitudinal examination.