Abstract
Associations between hair cortisol concentration (HCC), diurnal salivary cortisol (sCort) and alpha-amylase (sAA), and temperament dimensions were examined among 3–6-year-old Finnish children (n = 833). Children's hair samples were collected at preschool, while parents collected five saliva samples from children during one weekend day and completed a questionnaire assessing child's temperament dimensions i.e. surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control (HCC, n = 677; AUCg of sAA, n = 380; AUCg of sCort, n = 302; temperament dimensions, n = 751). In linear regression analysis, diurnal sCort associated positively with HCC, the association persisting after adjustments (β 0.31, 95% CI 0.20–0.42). In logistic regression analysis, increasing scores in effortful control associated with higher likelihood of having high HCC (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07–2.03), the association slightly attenuating to non-significant after adjustments. Otherwise, no clear indication for associations between temperament and stress-related biomarkers were found.
Highlights
Balanced stress regulation is important for promoting both physical and mental health and wellbeing (Turner et al, 2020)
As the number of children with complete AUCg of salivary cortisol (sCort) data (n = 302) was substantially lower than the number of all participants in this study (n = 833), we compared whether the groups of children with and without AUCg of sCort data differed from each other according to de mographic factors, hair cortisol concentration (HCC), or temperament dimensions
The study is among few studies to report associations between temperament dimensions and stress-related bio markers in children in everyday life settings. Another strength is the broad perspective on indicators reflecting the functioning of stress response systems, as we examined the associations of temperament with high and low HCC, sCort, as well as salivary alpha-amylase (sAA)
Summary
Balanced stress regulation is important for promoting both physical and mental health and wellbeing (Turner et al, 2020). Two biological stress systems are activated in response to stressors: the sympathetic (autonomous) nervous system (SNS) and the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal (HPA) system (Chrousos, 2009). The HPA activity results in secretion of cortisol from the adrenal glands (Chrousos, 2009). Because blood withdrawal is unrealistic in many study designs, cortisol is often measured in saliva as a reliable marker of HPA axis stress response (Kirschbaum and Hellhammer, 1989). Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) serves as an obtained surrogate marker of autonomic nervous system activity in adults and children (Nater and Rohleder, 2009) as it increases immediately after acute stress and returns to baseline level quickly (Engert et al, 2011)
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