Childhood environment early life stress, caregiver warmth, and associations with the cortisol diurnal curve in adulthood: The coronary artery risk development in young adults (CARDIA) study. (March 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ortiz, Robin; Zhao, Songzhu; Kline, David M.; Brock, Guy; Carroll, Judith E.; Seeman, Teresa E.; Jaffee, Sara R.; Berger, Jeffrey S.; Golden, Sherita H.; Carnethon, Mercedes R.; Joseph, Joshua J.
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 149(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-03
• Subjects: Childhood adversity -- Adverse childhood experiences -- Early life stress -- Cortisol -- Stress -- Caregiver warmth; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.106008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Early life stress (ELS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality across the lifecourse. Studies observing a relationship between ELS and stress physiology (cortisol), may help explain the connection to poor health outcomes, but have been limited by cortisol measures used. Purpose: We examined the association between ELS measured by a Risky Family (RF) environment questionnaire, and adult diurnal cortisol profile inclusive of multiple cortisol measures. Methods: RF and cortisol were collected from Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study participants at follow-up (Year 15). Complete case (n = 672) data were included in multi-variable regression analyses with log transformed cortisol measures (outcomes) including wake-up cortisol, cortisol awakening response [CAR], AUC and five other cortisol diurnal curve measures. Results: Participants were age 39.9 + /− 3.7 years and 51.6% Black. For every 1 unit increase in RF, there was a 1.4% greater wake-up cortisol and flatter CAR after adjustment for age, sex, income, and smoking (B=0.014, p = 0.023; B=−0.014, p = 0.028, respectively). Each unit increase in caregiver warmth/affection was associated with a 6.9% higher (steeper) CAR (B=0.069, p = 0.03). Results remained significant after adjusting for other covariates except social support in adulthood. An interaction between child abuse and caregiver warmth was nearly significant (p = 0.068), such that for those with exposure to the greatest caregiver warmth and lowest child abuse, CAR was steepest Conclusions: We demonstrate that ELS is associated with altered cortisol regulation in adulthood. However, further research is needed to assess how healthy relationships throughout the life course may modulate cortisol regulation in adulthood. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Early life stress (ELS) is associated with elevated wake-up cortisol. ELS is associated with flatter cortisol awakening response (CAR). Caregiver warmth is associated with greater CAR slope. Social support in adulthood attenuated all ELS and cortisol associations. Further investigation of healthy relationships as a buffer against ELS is warranted.