Cortisol responses to social evaluation in 10- to 15-year-old boys and girls

Abstract

This study investigated Cortisol responses and perceived stress of 10-15-year-olds to a computerized paradigm including elements of social evaluation, unpredictability, and uncontrollability. Both age and sex differences were examined. Participants were 52 children and adolescents (23 boys, mean age = 12.5 years). Over the course of an approximately 2-h testing session participants were exposed to a computerized testing paradigm, the social evaluative stress test (SEST), that lasted for 50 min and includes elements of social evaluation, unpredictability and uncontrollability. Seven saliva samples were obtained to measure cortisol concentrations before, during and after the SEST, to provide pre-stress values, cortisol reactivity to the stressor and recovery after stress. In addition, subjective emotional stress experiences were recorded. The results showed no effect of age on cortisol responses. Furthermore, although both sexes reported experiencing the paradigm as (equally) stressful, only boys reacted with significant cortisol increases (M = 163%). To our knowledge, this is the first computerized stressor that induces cortisol responses in 10- to 15-year-old boys. Whether the girls' perceived stress results in the activation of other biological systems, such as the sympathetic nervous system as well as in differential activation of brain regions, remains to be determined. Future studies investigating sex differences in stress reactivity during adolescence should include neuroimaging, as well as psychophysiological measures, to unveil some of the mechanisms behind the current findings.