Biosocial Interactions Between Relational Victimization and Physiological Stress Reactivity in Relation to Anxious/Depressive Symptoms and Cognitive Biases in Adolescent Girls

Associations between children's depressive symptoms and physiological stress reactivity have been identified across many investigations. Similarly, a large body of literature explores the cognitive correlates of depressive symptomatology in childhood. To date, few studies conducted with children have integrated these approaches. In the present study, we examine a well-documented correlate of depression in adults; low cognitive interdependence (as measured via pronoun use, or we-ratio), in a child population. We explore the relation of low cognitive interdependence to children's concurrent depressive symptoms as well as their concurrent and later stress reactivity. At Time 1, we assessed school-aged children's (N = 60) depressive symptoms and children's we-ratio from an interview about their school experiences. Two weeks later (Time 2), children provided salivary cortisol samples before and after a stressor task. At Time 3 (1.5 years later), children provided cortisol samples before and after completing a different stressor task. Children's depressive symptoms were concurrently associated with lower we-ratio, which in turn was prospectively, but not concurrently, associated with higher cortisol reactivity, acting as an indirect effect between depression and later reactivity. These findings suggest that low levels of cognitive interdependence may be one mechanism by which children's depressive symptoms forecast heightened reactivity to stress.

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Physiological stress reactivity and physical and relational aggression: The moderating roles of victimization, type of stressor, and child gender

Development and Psychopathology ◽

10.1017/s095457941400025x ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 589-603 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Dianna Murray-Close ◽

Nicki R. Crick ◽

Wan-Ling Tseng ◽

Nicole Lafko ◽

Casey Burrows ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Relational Aggression ◽

Stress Reactivity ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Well Being ◽

Relational Victimization ◽

Physiological Reactivity ◽

Child Gender ◽

And Gender ◽

Laboratory Stress

AbstractThe purpose of the present investigation was to examine the association between physiological reactivity to peer stressors and physical and relational aggression. Potential moderation by actual experiences of peer maltreatment (i.e., physical and relational victimization) and gender were also explored. One hundred ninety-six children (M = 10.11 years, SD = 0.64) participated in a laboratory stress protocol during which their systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and skin conductance reactivity to recounting a relational stressor (e.g., threats to relationships) and an instrumental stressor (e.g., threats to physical well-being, dominance, or property) were assessed. Teachers provided reports of aggression and victimization. In both boys and girls, physical aggression was associated with blunted physiological reactivity to relational stress and heightened physiological reactivity to instrumental stress, particularly among youth higher in victimization. In girls, relational aggression was most robustly associated with blunted physiological reactivity to relational stressors, particularly among girls exhibiting higher levels of relational victimization. In boys, relational aggression was associated with heightened physiological reactivity to both types of stressors at higher levels of peer victimization and blunted physiological reactivity to both types of stressors at lower levels of victimization. Results underscore the shared and distinct emotional processes underlying physical and relational aggression in boys and girls.

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Cognitive Bias Modification for Interpretation in Major Depression

Clinical Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/2167702614560748 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 126-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Jutta Joormann ◽

Christian E. Waugh ◽

Ian H. Gotlib

Keyword(s):

Major Depressive Disorder ◽

Depressive Disorder ◽

Cognitive Bias ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Stress Reactivity ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Cognitive Bias Modification ◽

Major Depressive ◽

Physiological Stress Response ◽

Bias Modification

Interpreting ambiguous stimuli in a negative manner is a core bias associated with depression. Investigators have used cognitive bias modification for interpretation (CBM-I) to demonstrate that it is possible to experimentally induce and modify these biases. In this study, we extend previous research by examining whether CBM-I affects not only interpretation but also memory and physiological stress response in individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder. We found that CBM-I was effective in inducing an interpretive bias. Participants also exhibited memory biases that corresponded to their training condition and demonstrated differential physiological responding in a stress task. These results suggest that interpretation biases in depression can be modified and that this training can lead to corresponding changes in memory and to decreases in stress reactivity. Findings from this study highlight the importance of examining the relations among different cognitive biases in major depressive disorder and the possibility of modifying cognitive biases.

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