Poster #58 - Low Peer Preference and Late Childhood ANS and HPA-axis Responses to an Interpersonal Peer Stressor

• In Event: 3-106 - Poster Session 11
  In Poster Session: PS 11 Section - Developmental Psychopathology

Integrative Statement

Background. Low peer preference by classroom peers has been described as distressing. Such negative social experiences in the peer group may alter children’s physiological responses to future peer exclusion experiences. One suggested process through which negative social experiences in the peer context might affect children is that it becomes embedded in the psychophysiology of children. Chronic social stress has previously been associated with blunted Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenocortical axis (HPA-axis) responses. It is, however, unknown whether low peer preference during childhood is already associated with alterations in HPA-axis and ANS responses. The goal of this study was therefore to assess ANS and HPA-axis responses to an acute interpersonal stressor among elementary school children with a history of low versus high peer preference.
Methods. Children’s history of peer preference from kindergarten till third grade was assessed annually using peer nominations (like, dislike). A social preference score (like – dislike) was computed at each wave and averaged across the waves. Boys with a score in the lower/higher 35-percentile were considered low/high peer preferred. Of the 53 boys who participated in a lab study, 33 boys (M age = 10.97 years, SD = .68) were of low peer preference and 20 boys (M age = 10.97 years, SD = .68) of high peer preference. In this lab study, the boys completed a standardized version of the Yale Interpersonal Stressor (YIPS-C). Cortisol (Cort) and alpha amylase (sAA) concentration changes were measured with salivates at seven time points throughout the procedure. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured continuously throughout the procedure (see Figure 1).
Results. Results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that cortisol change in low preferred children significantly differed from cortisol change in high preferred children Ftime*group(1,49)=2.21, p=.04 (Figure 2a). Post-hoc effects showed that low peer preferred children showed decreased cortisol responses 17 minutes after completing the interpersonal stressor compared to high preferred children, t(19)= -.75, p<.05 and 28 minutes after the interpersonal stressor, t(19)= -.33, p<.05. Results further showed that HRV of low preferred children was significantly different than HRV of high preferred children, Ftime*group(2,55,6)=3.56, p=.04 (Figure 2d). Post-hoc effects showed that HRV was higher among low peer preferred children compared to high peer preferred children during a non-stressful cognitive task before the interpersonal stressor, t(19)= 3.02, p< .01, during inclusion, t(19)= 2.98, p<.01, during exclusion, t(19)= 1.83, p<.05 and during the rejection phase, t(19)= 2.53, p<.05. There were no group differences regarding sAA (Figure 2b) or HR (Figure 2c) responses.
Discussion. The results suggest that low peer preferred children’s cortisol responses to interpersonal stress might be downregulated, while anticipatory HRV might be upregulated as an adaptive psychobiological mechanism after prolonged stress exposure in the peer context in the elementary school period. Results further suggest that heart rate and alpha amylase responses to interpersonal stress do not differ between low and high preferred children.

Authors

• Pia Behnsen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  Presenting Author

• Joanne Marieke Buil, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Susanne Koot, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Anja C. Huizink, VU University Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pol van Lier, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  Non-Presenting Author