Genetic and environmental influences on cortisol reactivity to a psychosocial stressor in adolescents and young adults

PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

卷:127

Article

Sawyers, Chelsea¹  Sheerin, Christina¹  Eastman, Meridith¹  Burchett, Jason¹  Howell, Paul²  Neigh, Gretchen²  Amstadter, Ananda B.¹  Hettema, John¹  Roberson-Nay, Roxann¹ 

[1] Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Virginia Inst Psychiat & Behav Genet, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

[2] Virginia Commonwealth Univ, Sch Med, Dept Anat & Neurobiol, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

关键词: Cortisol;    Cortisol reactivity;    Stressor;    Twin;    Heritability;    Area under curve;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105195

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Individuals vary in their response to psychological and physiological stressors, and this reactivity can be captured using measures of cortisol. Previous research suggests cortisol reactivity is under some degree of genetic control; however, the measures used have varied widely. This study (N = 524) examined potential differences in heritability across varying cortisol metrics of stress reactivity following the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and whether these measures are genetically or environmentally interrelated. Participants included twins aged 15?20 years (56% female). Cortisol reactivity to the TSST was assessed via serial salivary cortisol samples collected preand post-TSST. Modest to moderate heritability estimates (12% [95CI: 1?36%] - 45% [95CI: 16?69%]) were observed across measures purported to capture stress reactivity (peak, area under the curve [AUC], baseline-topeak change). Findings also demonstrate both shared and unique genetic and environmental influences between baseline cortisol and cortisol reactivity. Minimal to no additional genetic innovations above and beyond the contributions of peak cortisol were found for other measures of cortisol reactivity such as AUC. This study is one of the largest twin-based samples to examine the heritability of cortisol reactivity, and results suggest that simpler measures of cortisol reactivity demonstrate higher heritability compared to more complex measurements.

【 授权许可】

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