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Two‐year stability of individual differences in (para)sympathetic and HPA ‐axis responses to public speaking in childhood and adolescence
Author(s) -
Bos Esther,
Westenberg P. Michiel
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/psyp.12337
Subject(s) - psychology , anticipation (artificial intelligence) , developmental psychology , audiology , medicine , computer science , artificial intelligence
Long‐term stability of individual differences in stress responses has repeatedly been demonstrated in adults, but few studies have investigated the development of stability in adolescence. The present study was the first to investigate the stability of individual differences in heart rate, parasympathetic ( RMSSD , pNN50 , HF ), sympathetic ( LF / HF , SC ), and HPA ‐axis (salivary cortisol) responses in a youth sample (8–19 years). Responses to public speaking were measured twice over 2 years. Stability was moderate for absolute responses and task delta responses of HR , RMSSD , pNN50 , and HF . Stability was lower for SC and task delta responses of LF / HF and cortisol. Anticipation delta responses showed low stability for HR and cortisol. The latter was moderated by age or puberty, so that individual differences were more stable in more mature individuals. The results support the suggestion that stress responses may be reset during adolescence, but only for the HPA axis.