Awakening cortisol indicators, advanced glycation end products, stress perception, depression and anxiety in parents of children with chronic conditions. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ljubičić, Marija; Baković, Lada; Ćoza, Martina; Pribisalić, Ajka; Kolčić, Ivana
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 117(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: AGEs advanced glycation end products -- ASD autistic spectrum disorder -- AUC area under the curve -- AUCG area under the curve with respect to the ground -- AUCI area under the curve with respect to the increase -- BMI body mass index -- BRS Brief Resilience Scale -- C00min awakening cortisol concentration -- C15min cortisol concentration 15 min after awakening -- C30min cortisol concentration 30 min after awakening -- C60min cortisol concentration 60 min after awakening -- CAR cortisol awakening response -- CARI cortisol awakening response increase -- CARS CAR salience -- CARSL slope of the line of the car -- CCBS Child's Challenging Behavior Scale -- CG control group -- CP cerebral palsy -- DDs developmental difficulties -- DMT1 diabetes mellitus type 1 -- DS Down syndrome -- ECLIA electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method -- FQOL Family Quality of Life Scale -- GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale -- HPA hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis -- IDcode identification code -- IPAQ-SF International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form -- KG kilogram -- M meter -- MDSS Mediterranean Diet Serving Score -- MnInc mean cortisol increase -- NC night cortisol concentration -- PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire (depression) -- PRSS-18 Parental Stress Scale -- PSS-10 Perceived Stress Scale; Children with developmental disabilities -- Parental stress -- Cortisol awakening response -- Advanced glycation end products -- Depression -- Anxiety; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Parents of children with chronic conditions displayed a reduced CAR and AUCI . Morning cortisol values and AUCG correlated with AGEs, anxiety, and depression. Depression and anxiety were positively correlated with AGEs. General stress perception was associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Child's condition has important role in parental health and family functioning. Abstract: This cross-sectional study aims to investigate awakening cortisol indicators and to explore their association with stress perception, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), depression and anxiety in parents of children with chronic conditions. We included five parental groups according to children's diagnoses: Down syndrome (DS; N = 31), autistic spectrum disorder (ASD; N = 29), cerebral palsy (CP; N = 15), diabetes mellitus type 1 (DMT1; N = 38), and a control group of heathy children (CG; N = 33). Salivary cortisol and AGEs were measured, alongside with psychological indices. Partial correlation and multiple linear regression were used in the analysis to identify parental characteristics associated with total awakening cortisol output (area under the curve with respect to the ground, AUCG ), cortisol awakening response (area under the curve with respect to the increase, AUCI ), perceived stress, and health outcomes (AGEs, depression and anxiety). There was no difference between groups for AUCG, while DS and DMT1 groups showed reduced AUCI ( β = –0.241, p = 0.040; β = −0.249, p = 0.028, respectively), and ASD parents had a borderline insignificant result ( β = −0.205, p = 0.081). Non-smokers had higher AUCG, and parental sedentary activity and sleep duration were associated with AUCI . AUCG was positively associated with AGEs ( β = 0.218, p = 0.013), anxiety ( β = 0.207, p = 0.004), and with depression ( β = 0.156, p = 0.034), unlike the AUCI . DS parental group showed lower general stress perception ( β = −0.260, p = 0.005). Parents of children with DMT1 had more pronounced depressive symptoms ( β = 0.183, p = 0.039), while CP parents had a borderline insignificant result for depression ( β = 0.143, p = 0.058). Based on these results, parents of children with chronic conditions have altered awaking cortisol response and are under increased risk of adverse health consequences.