Salivary cortisol and behavioral response to social evaluative threat in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Edmiston, E. Kale; Blain, Scott D.; Corbett, Blythe A.

doi:10.1002/aur.1660

Cited by 31 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 93 publications

(105 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, based on within-group analyses, distinct profiles emerged. Similar to previous findings using pairwise comparisons, children with ASD exhibited a blunted cortisol and RSA response, a finding consistently observed in other studies of children and adolescents with ASD (e.g.,(Edmiston et al, 2017; Lanni et al, 2012; Levine et al, 2012)). In contrast, the TD children showed an adaptive stress response and enhanced regulation when socially evaluated by others.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing stress and arousal systems in response to different social contexts in children with ASD

Corbett

Muscatello

Baldinger

2019

Biological Psychology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Response to psychological stress can vary based on the extent to which the context is perceived as stressful, especially under different social conditions. The purpose of this preliminary study was to compare physiological stress (cortisol) and regulation (respiratory sinus arrhythmia, RSA) of 10–12 year old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD, n=31) or typical development (TD, n=25) when exposed to two social stress protocols. The extent to which perceived emotion (affect recognition) and anxiety (state and trait) mediate the stress response was also explored. Results revealed different patterns of stress responses dependent on the type of stressor. During a friendly social interaction, both groups generally showed an adaptive, synergistic response between cortisol and RSA. In response to social evaluation, however, the ASD group did not show correlating responses between physiological systems, which was likely due to a blunted stress response to the social evaluative stressor. The ability to recognize neutral faces mediated the relationship between diagnostic group and physiological response to social evaluation, indicating that perception of threat is essential to triggering a stress response. The current study emphasizes the need to consider the important role of social context, social perception, and perceived anxiety when examining social interaction and stress.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing stress and arousal systems in response to different social contexts in children with ASD

Corbett

Muscatello

Baldinger

2019

Biological Psychology

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Specifically, the majority of research in individuals with ASD has explored the relationship between cortisol and psychopathology symptoms in relation to a stressor, rather than baseline levels. Edmiston, Blain, and Corbett [] have suggested that children with ASD may have limited insight into reporting their physiological arousal “in the moment,” though reporting on stable trait anxiety may be more reliable. Moreover, research in this area has predominantly focused on children and adolescents, with less literature focused on adults with ASD, and developmental effects seem likely.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing a hyperarousal hypothesis of insomnia in adults with autism spectrum disorder

et al. 2019

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep, psychopathology (anxiety, depression and presleep arousal) symptoms, and cortisol in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The sample composed of 29 adults with ASD (51.7% males) and 29 control adults (51.7% males) aged 21-44 years. Thirteen adults with ASD were medicated for a comorbid diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression (ASD-Med), while the remaining 16 adults with ASD were not medicated for such diagnoses (ASD-Only). Participants completed a questionnaire battery, 14-day sleep/wake diary and 14-day actigraphy assessment. On one day during the data collection period, participants collected five saliva samples, hourly, prior to sleep and two morning samples; immediately upon waking and 30 min thereafter for the analysis of cortisol. Cortisol 1 hr prior to habitual sleep onset time was associated with poorer sleep efficiency in both ASD groups and increased wake after sleep onset duration (ASD-Only). Higher subjective somatic arousal was also associated with increased sleep onset latency, regardless of group, and poorer sleep efficiency in the ASD-Only group. ASD-Only participants had significantly greater reductions in evening cortisol concentrations compared to both ASD-Med and control participants. No significant group differences were found for the cortisol awakening response. Findings suggest a hyperarousal hypothesis of insomnia in adults with ASD. Moreover, the low cortisol levels observed in ASD-Only adults suggest dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Longitudinal studies exploring the interplay between insomnia, anxiety and HPA axis regulation across the lifespan in those with ASD are warranted. Autism Res 2019, 12: 897-910.Lay Summary: Both objective (cortisol) and subjective (somatic) physiological arousal were associated with poor sleep quality in adults on the autism spectrum. Adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who were not medicated for a comorbid diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression also had dampened cortisol secretion, suggesting a dysregulation of the hypothalamic pituitary axis. Longitudinal studies investigating the relationship between sleep, psychopathology symptoms and physiological arousal in autistic individuals are warranted.

show abstract

“…For example, many children with ASD have elevated cortisol in response to social interaction [Lopata, Volker, Putnam, Thomeer, & Nida, ; Corbett et al, ; Corbett, Schupp, & Lanni, ; Corbett, Schupp, Simon, Ryan, & Mendoza, ; Schupp, Simon, & Corbett, ]. During social evaluative threat, however, both children and adolescents with ASD show a maladaptive blunted cortisol response [Edmiston, Blain, & Corbett, ; Lanni, Schupp, Simon, & Corbett, ; Corbett et al, ; Levine et al, ; Jansen, Gispen‐de Wied, & Van der Gaag, 2000]. There is substantial evidence for elevated evening cortisol [Corbett, Schupp, Levine, & Mendoza, 2009; Corbett, Mendoza, Wegelin, Carmean, & Levine, ; Tomarken, Han, & Corbett, ], as well as lower morning values [Corbett et al, ; Corbett et al, ] in children with ASD.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparing the effects of age, pubertal development, and symptom profile on cortisol rhythm in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Muscatello

Corbett

2017

Autism Research

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous studies in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have shown elevated evening cortisol; however, few studies have examined diurnal rhythm in adolescents with ASD. Adolescence is a time of significant physical and psychological change, and dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis may put adolescents with ASD at increased risk for internalizing disorders, such as anxiety and depression. The extent to which cortisol levels are associated with age, puberty and symptom profile was examined in 113 youth (ages 7-17) with ASD and typical development. Salivary samples were collected over 3 days in the home, 4 times per day (waking, 30-min post-waking, afternoon, evening). Results showed youth with ASD had higher evening cortisol and a blunted diurnal slope relative to TD youth. Pubertal development and age were significant predictors of evening cortisol, and adolescents with ASD had higher evening cortisol levels compared to children with ASD. The study extends previous reports of elevated evening cortisol in children with ASD to reveal high levels in adolescence as well. Adolescents with ASD also show a significantly blunted diurnal slope, which may be associated with risk of internalizing symptoms. Findings suggest elevated evening cortisol persists across development in youth with ASD, thus emphasizing a need to identify potential negative effects of excess cortisol exposure on health in ASD individuals. Autism Res 2018, 11: 110-120. V C 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Lay Summary: Elevations in stress hormone, cortisol, during the evening may indicate increased stress from changes throughout the day in youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The current study shows that age and pubertal development are also related to increases in evening cortisol, and this maladaptive elevation in cortisol in ASD is not going away with age. These cortisol elevations may also be associated with other psychological symptoms and warrant further investigation in adolescents with ASD.

show abstract

Salivary cortisol and behavioral response to social evaluative threat in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Cited by 31 publications

References 93 publications

Comparing stress and arousal systems in response to different social contexts in children with ASD

Comparing stress and arousal systems in response to different social contexts in children with ASD

Assessing a hyperarousal hypothesis of insomnia in adults with autism spectrum disorder

Comparing the effects of age, pubertal development, and symptom profile on cortisol rhythm in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About