Adolescent girls' stress responses as prospective predictors of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A person-centered, multilevel study. (25th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bendezú, Jason José; Calhoun, Casey D.; Patterson, Megan W.; Findley, Abigail; Rudolph, Karen D.; Hastings, Paul; Nock, Matthew K.; Prinstein, Mitchell J.
• Is Part Of: Development and psychopathology. Volume 34:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 1447
• Page End: 1467
• Publication Date: 2022-10-25
• Subjects: adolescence -- cortisol -- negative affect -- nonsuicidal self-injury -- positive affect; Child psychopathology -- Periodicals; Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Pathological -- Periodicals; 618.9289
• DOI: 10.1017/S0954579420002229
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-5794

Abstract

Abstract: Adolescent risk for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (STBs) involves disturbance across multiple systems (e.g., affective valence, arousal regulatory, cognitive and social processes). However, research integrating information across these systems is lacking. Utilizing a multiple-levels-of-analysis approach, this person-centered study identified psychobiological stress response profiles and linked them to cognitive processes, interpersonal behaviors, and STBs. At baseline, adolescent girls ( N = 241, Mage = 14.68 years, Range = 12–17) at risk for STBs completed the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), questionnaires, and STB interviews. Positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and salivary cortisol (SC) were assessed before and after the TSST. STBs were assessed again during 3, 6, and 9 month follow-up interviews. Multitrajectory modeling of girls' PA, NA, and SC revealed four profiles, which were compared on cognitive and behavioral correlates as well as STB outcomes. Relative to normative, girls in the affective distress, hyperresponsive, and hyporesponsive subgroups were more likely to report negative cognitive style (all three groups) and excessive reassurance seeking ( hyporesponsive only) at baseline, as well as nonsuicidal self-injury (all three groups) and suicidal ideation and attempt ( hyporesponsive only) at follow-up. Girls' close friendship characteristics moderated several profile–STB links. A synthesis of the findings is presented alongside implications for person-centered tailoring of intervention efforts.