TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of daily activities in youths' stress physiology
AU - McHale, Susan M.
AU - Blocklin, Michelle K.
AU - Walter, Kimberly N.
AU - Davis, Kelly D.
AU - Almeida, David M.
AU - Klein, Laura Cousino
N1 - Funding Information:
None of the authors have any conflict of interest pertaining to this study. The authors thank Jeanette Bennett, Ann Crouter, Natasha Dmitrieva, Heather King, and Courtney Whetzel for their help in conducting this study, and the participating youths for their time. This research was conducted as part of the Work, Family and Health Network, which is funded by a cooperative agreement through the National Institutes of Health and the CDC: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development ( U01HD051217 , U01HD051218 , U01HD051256 , U01HD051276 ), National Institute on Aging ( U01AG027669 ), Office of Behavioral and Science Sciences Research, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ( U010H008788 ). The contents of this publication are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of these institutes and offices. Special acknowledgment goes to Extramural Staff Science Collaborator, Rosalind Berkowitz King, Ph.D. (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) and Lynne Casper, Ph.D. (now of the University of Southern California), for design of the original Workplace, Family, Health and Well-Being Network Initiative. The authors also thank Alfred P. Sloan Foundation (2004–12-4), The W.T. Grant Foundation (9844), the Penn State General Clinical Research Center ( National Institutes of Health grant M01-RR-10732 ), Johnson & Johnson Consumer and Personal Products Worldwide, and the Penn State Social Science Research Institute for providing additional support for this research.
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Purpose: This study examined links between diurnal patterns of the stress hormone cortisol and time spent by adolescents in nine common daily activities. Methods: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: Beyond their known implications for psychological adjustment, youths' everyday activities are linked to stress physiology.
AB - Purpose: This study examined links between diurnal patterns of the stress hormone cortisol and time spent by adolescents in nine common daily activities. Methods: 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). Results: 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. Conclusion: Beyond their known implications for psychological adjustment, youths' everyday activities are linked to stress physiology.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.03.016
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.03.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 23174474
AN - SCOPUS:84869499256
VL - 51
SP - 623
EP - 628
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
SN - 1054-139X
IS - 6
ER -
