Dual‐axis hormonal covariation in adolescence and the moderating influence of prior trauma and aversive maternal parenting

Abstract

Adversity early in life can disrupt the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes and increase risk for negative health outcomes. The interplay between these axes and the environment is complex, and understanding needs to be advanced by the investigation of the multiple hormonal relationships underlying these processes. The current study examined basal hormonal associations between morning levels of cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone in a cohort of adolescents (mean age 15.56 years). The moderating influence of childhood adversity was also examined, as indexed by self-reported trauma (at mean age 14.91), and observed maternal aggressive parenting (at mean age 12.41). Between-person regressions revealed significant associations between hormones that were moderated by both measures of adversity. In females, all hormones positively covaried, but also interacted with adversity, such that positive covariation was typically only present when levels of trauma and/or aggressive parenting were low. In males, hormonal associations and interactions were less evident; however, interactions were detected for cortisol-testosterone - positively covarying at high levels of aggressive parenting but negatively covarying at low levels - and DHEA-cortisol - similarly positively covarying at high levels of parental aggression. These results demonstrate associations between adrenal and gonadal hormones and the moderating role of adversity, which is likely driven by feedback mechanisms, or cross-talk, between the axes. These findings suggest that hormonal changes may be the pathway through which early life adversity alters physiology and increases health risks, but does so differentially in the sexes; however further study is necessary to establish causation.

Annual Research Review: Early adversity, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical axis, and child psychopathology

“…Recent research has explored dual‐axis investigations (e.g., Marceau et al., ); with researchers considering the interactive influence of cortisol with DHEA or testosterone. To date, there appears to be evidence for developmental influences, adversity, and sex effects in impacting the coupling of basal levels of the HPA–HPG axes (Ruttle, Shirtcliff, Armstrong, Klein, & Essex, ; Simmons et al., ). Adolescence in particular may be a period in which the HPA–HPG axes work in concert with one another (Shirtcliff et al., ).…”

A dual‐axis approach to understanding neuroendocrine development

“…Would animal research that is designed to capture psychosocial stress converge with these human findings (we think so (Sapolsky, 2005; Wobber et al, 2010))? If we’re talking about sex and stress hormones, where do we put gender (is early life stress more consistent within males (Simmons, et al, 2015)or females (Ruttle, et al, 2013)? ).…”

Sexual Dysfunction in Men Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment: Clinical History and Psychobiological Correlates

“…To this purpose, disrupted childhood attachment was commonly found in a sample of men with erectile dysfunction, and this reported association with significant differences in their clinical profile, including an earlier onset, a lower likelihood of being married and higher rates of performance anxiety [28] . Childhood adversities such as sexual abuse were identified as a likely factor in the development of sexual dysfunction in adults [29] . The same seems to be true for hormonal changes, with HPG axis and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis covariation, also attributable to aversive parenting [30] , childhood adversities and related psychological problems [31] .…”