Sex And Ethnic Differences In The Association Of Relational Aggression And Externalizing Behavior And The Development Of Diurnal Cortisol Variation, An Exaggerated Stress Response And Overweight/Obesity In Diverse Youth: A Consideration Of The Dynamic Integration Perspective
Open Access
- Author:
- Blades, Keeva Taneka
- Graduate Program:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- April 29, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Elizabeth Susman, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Collins O Airhihenbuwa, Committee Member
Lori Anne Francis, Committee Member
Michael J Rovine, Committee Member - Keywords:
- diurnal rhythm
stress response
externalizing behavior
relational aggression
cortisol
overweight/obesity
ethnicity - Abstract:
- An interactionist framework, as proposed by Magnusson (1999), was used to examine the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of relational aggression and externalizing behavior in the development of atypical hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and overweight/obesity at puberty. Sex and ethnic differences were considered in relation to overweight and obesity. The sample for the first two studies was drawn from an Eastern US city and consisted of children and adolescents (N=135), aged 8-13 years, who participated in a longitudinal study on puberty and behavior. Girls were aged 8, 10 and 12 years and boys were aged 9, 11 and 13 years at study entry. The Eastern sample, along with a multiethnic West Coast sample (N=454), which included participants aged 9-12 years, drawn from a longitudinal study on neglect and behavior, was used in the third study. The first study examined the cross-sectional relationship of diurnal variation in cortisol, an exaggerated stress response, relational aggression and externalizing behavior, as moderated by timing of puberty and depressive symptoms. Results show that earlier maturing adolescents with a low diurnal cortisol variation, as well as adolescents with a heightened response to a stressor and less diurnal cortisol variation, were most relationally aggressive. Sex differences were found when externalizing behavior was examined, with depressed girls with a low diurnal cortisol variation and either heightened or attenuated cortisol reactivity exhibiting the most externalizing behavior problems. Later maturing boys with higher numbers of depressive symptoms and heightened cortisol reactivity also exhibited higher levels of externalizing behavior problems. The second study investigated the prediction of diurnal cortisol variation by relational aggression and externalizing behavior over 12 months. Relational aggression predicted less diurnal cortisol variation over 12 months in earlier maturing adolescents with higher numbers of depressive symptoms. Externalizing behavior predicted a steadily decreasing diurnal cortisol variation over 12 months in earlier maturing adolescents with lower numbers of depressive symptoms. Between-group differences indicated that girls who practiced relational aggression and externalizing behavior also had less diurnal cortisol variation over 12 months. The final study examined the interaction of cortisol reactivity and externalizing behavior in the prediction of weight status 12 months later in a multiethnic sample of children and adolescents. Eastern adolescents with lower levels of externalizing behavior and West Coast non-Hispanic Black girls with higher levels of externalizing behavior and a diminished cortisol output at baseline (0 months) had a higher weight status a year later. Only non-Hispanic Black girls with higher levels of externalizing behavior and heightened cortisol reactivity at baseline (0 months) had a higher weight status a year later. These studies highlight a need for additional studies to further examine the unique, integrative role that aggressive behavior can play in the development of atypical HPA axis activity and overweight/obesity in multiple ethnic youth. Such studies may elucidate the pathways leading to the development of health disparities in chronic disease during the adolescent period.