TitleThe role of daily activities in youths' stress physiology.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2012
AuthorsMcHale, SM, Blocklin, MK, Walter, KN, Davis, KD, Almeida, DM, Klein, LCousino
JournalJ Adolesc Health
Volume51
Issue6
Pagination623-8
Date Published2012 Dec
ISSN1879-1972
KeywordsActivities of Daily Living, Adolescent, Area Under Curve, Child, Circadian Rhythm, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Medical Records, Saliva, Stress, Physiological, Stress, Psychological
Abstract

<p><b>PURPOSE: </b>This study examined links between diurnal patterns of the stress hormone cortisol and time spent by adolescents in nine common daily activities.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>During eight consecutive nightly telephone interviews, 28 youths (n = 12 girls), 10-18 years of age, reported their daily activities. On 4 days, four saliva samples were also collected and assayed for cortisol. Multilevel models assessed within- and between-person associations between time in each activity and cortisol area under the curve (AUC), cortisol awakening response (CAR), morning peak (30 minutes after wake up), and daily decline (morning peak to bedtime).</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Links with AUC were found for most activities; significant associations with cortisol rhythms suggested that most effects were due to anticipation of the day's activities. Specifically, on days when youths spent more time than usual on video games and television, they had lower AUCs, with lower morning peaks. Youths who spent more time reading (within-person) and in computer-related activities (between-person) had higher AUCs, with stronger CARs (within-person). Youths who slept more had lower AUCs, with lower morning peaks on both the between- and within-person levels. Amounts of time spent in clubs, and for older adolescents in sports, were also linked to lower AUCs. Finally, youths who spent more time in school/schoolwork had lower average AUCs, but on days when youths spent more time than usual in school, they had higher AUCs, stronger CARs, and steeper daily declines.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>Beyond their known implications for psychological adjustment, youths' everyday activities are linked to stress physiology.</p>

DOI10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.03.016
Alternate JournalJ Adolesc Health
PubMed ID23174474
PubMed Central IDPMC3532943
Grant ListM01 RR010732 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
U01 HD051217 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01 HD051256 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U010H008788 / / PHS HHS / United States
U01HD051276 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01AG027669 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R24 HD041025 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01HD051256 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01HD051218 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01HD051217 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01 AG027669 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 HD051276 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States
U01 HD051218 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States