3-154 - Physiological and Cognitive Factors in the Link Between Peer-related Stress and Psychopathology

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

Rejection or victimization by peers are potent social stressors that confer increased risk for internalizing psychopathology. Diathesis-Stress Theory postulates that the effect of peer-stress is exacerbated when personal dispositions (e.g., cognitive or physiological susceptibilities) increase vulnerability for psychopathology. However, little research has examined the interplay between peer-stress and objective measures of cognitive or physiological vulnerability in the development of internalizing problems. Based on samples from the Netherlands, Canada, and the U.S., the studies in this symposium address this issue using a variety of measures and research designs. Using eye-tracking to assess cognitive processes, Study 1 examined the role of attentional biases during victimization incidences in the development of psychopathology. Results reveal that victimization was associated with increased internalizing problems at high levels of attention to the victim. Using a genetically-informed design, Study 2 examined interactive effects between HPA axis functioning and peer victimization on depression. Controlling for genetic influences, the environmental effect of peer victimization on depression was stronger in adolescents with higher HPA axis activity. Similar results were found in Study 3 for different indicators of peer-stress and physiological vulnerability. Here, peer rejection was associated with internalizing symptoms especially among adolescents with elevated systemic inflammation. Combining cognitive and physiological vulnerability factors, Study 4 reveals that peer victimization is associated with inflammatory reactivity to a laboratory-based social stressor task especially for adolescents with high levels of hopelessness. Together, these studies provide important insights into the complex interplay between peer-stress and cognitive and biological reactivity in the development of internalizing psychopathology.

Sub Unit

• Developmental Psychopathology

Chairs

• Mara Brendgen, University of Quebec at Montreal

• Wendy Troop-Gordon, North Dakota State University

Individual Presentations

• Attentional Biases to Scenes of Bullying and Peer Victimization and their Association with Internalizing Problems - Presenting Author: Wendy Troop-Gordon, North Dakota State University; Robert D. Gordon, North Dakota State University; Cassie Matejka, North Dakota State University

• Does Cortisol Moderate the Environmental Effect of Peer Victimization on Depression Symptoms? A Genetically Controlled Study - Presenting Author: Mara Brendgen, University of Quebec at Montreal; Isabelle Ouellet-Morin, University of Montreal; Sonia Lupien, University of Montreal; Frank Vitaro, University of Montreal; Ginette Dionne, Laval University; Michel Boivin, Laval University

• Examining the Interplay Between Peer Rejection and Systemic Inflammation on the Development of Adolescent Internalizing Symptoms - Presenting Author: Marieke de Bruine, Tilburg University; Matteo Giletta, Tilburg University; Jaap J.A. Denissen, Tilburg University; Jelle J. Sijtsema, Tilburg University; Albertine J. Oldehinkel, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen

• Peer Victimization, Cognitive Vulnerability, and Inflammatory Reactivity to Acute Stress Among High-Risk Adolescent Females - Presenting Author: Matteo Giletta, Tilburg University; George M. Slavich, University of California; Karen D. Rudolph, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign; Paul David Hastings, University of California, Davis; Matthew K. Nock, Harvard University; Mitchell J. Prinstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill