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The interactive association of proximal life stress and cumulative HPA axis functioning with depressive symptoms
Author(s) -
Shapero Benjamin G.,
Curley Erin E.,
Black Chelsea L.,
Alloy Lauren B.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.22957
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , psychology , association (psychology) , clinical psychology , depressive symptoms , young adult , psychiatry , anxiety , developmental psychology , economics , psychotherapist , macroeconomics
Background Stress is consistently implicated in depression. Using a vulnerability‐stress framework, the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis may be one factor affecting the stress‐depression association. However, the interactive influence of recent life stress and HPA axis functioning on depressive symptoms remains unclear. It is particularly important to understand the synergistic association during adolescence, as this is a developmental period associated with a high risk for depression. Methods A community sample of 58 adolescents (67% female, 59% Caucasian; mean age, 15.07 years) participated. Adolescents completed a well‐validated measure of depressive symptoms and a structured life events interview to assess recent life stress. Hair cortisol concentration was obtained to measure cumulative exposure to HPA axis functioning. Results Recent life stress and cumulative HPA axis exposure measured through hair cortisol were directly associated with higher depressive symptoms. Further, cumulative HPA axis exposure moderated the relationship between recent life stress and depressive symptoms. The recent life stress‐depression association occurred for adolescents who experienced average and high, but not low, levels of cumulative HPA axis exposure. Conclusions The current study builds on prior work and finds both a direct and interactive association of recent life stress and cumulative HPA axis functioning with depressive symptoms during adolescence. Identifying youth who experience high levels of HPA axis exposure is important to prevent the onset of depression.