Exploration of Pubertal Development Moderating the Association Between Risk Status and Adolescent Diurnal Cortisol

• Sara Pizzini, Psychology, Georgetown University

• Mary Dozier, Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware

Early adversity is associated with poor mental and physical outcomes later in life, making early childhood a critical period for development. Childhood risk has been linked to the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as shown through blunted diurnal cortisol rhythms, but little research has investigated moderating factors that may attenuate this association. Past research has found that puberty is a sensitive period which allows for recalibration of the HPA axis in terms of cortisol stress reactivity and cortisol awakening response (CAR), with individuals that experienced adversity developing a more normative cortisol response as they progress through puberty. There has been little investigation into whether this pubertal recalibration can influence diurnal cortisol slopes. Thus, the present study explored the possibility of puberty moderating the relationship between risk and adolescent diurnal cortisol. Cortisol levels at wake-time, afternoon, and bedtime were measured across three days in a sample of adolescents (n=92, M=13.23) in high (n=63) and low risk (n=29) groups, based on CPS involvement. Using a latent growth curve model, slope and intercept variables were generated for cortisol across three days, while controlling for age and gender. The Pubertal Development Scale (PDS) was used to measure their current pubertal status. Hayes’ PROCESS was used to assess if pubertal development moderated the association between high and low risk and diurnal cortisol. Analysis revealed a marginally significant interaction between pubertal development and risk status on cortisol intercept – centered at morning values. Although non-significant, the relationship demonstrated that as individuals in the low-risk group increased in pubertal status, morning cortisol values increased, and individuals in the high-risk group showed no relationship between pubertal status and morning cortisol values. Furthermore, the interaction between puberty and risk status on diurnal slope was non-significant. Further research should investigate this relationship longitudinally from middle childhood to adolescence.