Poster #22 - Childhood adversity and inflammatory biological markers: A study of stress sensitization

• In Event: 3-003 - Poster Session 09
  In Poster Session: PS 09 Section - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Integrative Statement

Childhood adversity is a potent predictor of adverse outcomes including poor educational performance, health issues, relationship difficulties, and psychopathology including depression (Berzenski & Yates, 2010; Hankin 2005). With the link between childhood adversity and adverse outcomes well established, researchers have sought to understand the biological mechanisms mediating this association. Recent findings suggest that youth who experience early adversity are more likely to have elevated levels of inflammatory markers of stress such as interleukin-6 (IL-6; Slope et al., 2014). It was hypothesized that youth with early experiences of childhood adversity may become sensitized to stress, such that they show greater increases in inflammatory stress reactivity over time following exposure to more recent life stressors. .

To test this theory, 173 youth (M = 13.02 years, 51.3% female, 52% Caucasian, 43% African American, 5% Biracial at Baseline) completed measures of early childhood adversity (Children’s Life Events Scale; CLES), recent life stressors (Life Events Interview; LEI), and provided blood samples to be tested for inflammatory markers, specifically IL-6, during a longitudinal study. On average, 1.4 years (SD =.6) elapsed between blood draw one and blood draw two, during which the change in inflammation was measured.

Results showed a significant interaction between recent interpersonal stress (LEI) and childhood adversity (CLES) when predicting IL6 at blood draw two (b = .0002, S.E. = .0001, t = 2.16, p =.03), controlling for BMI, Gender, and IL6 levels at blood draw one. Specifically, youth who had greater levels of childhood adversity were more likely to have higher levels of IL-6, after controlling for baseline levels of IL-6, when they also experienced more recent interpersonal life stressors (b=.001, S.E. = .0005, SE = 2.08, p =.04).

The results of this study support the hypothesis that youth who experienced early adversity appear to be sensitized to recent stressors at a biological level. This study has important implications for intervention and treatment of children who have experienced early adversity.

Authors

• Brae Anne McArthur, Temple University
  Presenting Author

• Marin M Kautz, Temple University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Naoise MacGiollabhui, Temple University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Christopher L. Coe, University of Wisconsin
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren M. Ellman, Temple University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lyn Y. Abramson, University of Wisconsin- Madison
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren B Alloy, Temple University
  Non-Presenting Author