Kalsea J Koss1, Megan R Gunnar2. 1. Center for Research on Child Wellbeing, Office of Population Research;, and the Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. 2. Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Research on early adversity, stress biology, and child development has grown exponentially in recent years. FINDINGS: We review the current evidence for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis as a stress-mediating mechanism between various forms of childhood adversity and psychopathology. We begin with a review of the neurobiology of the axis and evidence for relations between early adversity-HPA axis activity and HPA axis activity-psychopathology, as well as discuss the role of regulatory mechanisms and sensitive periods in development. CONCLUSIONS: We call attention to critical gaps in the literature to highlight next steps in this research including focus on developmental timing, sex differences, stress buffering, and epigenetic regulation. A better understanding of individual differences in the adversity-HPA axis-psychopathology associations will require continued work addressing how multiple biological and behavioral systems work in concert to shape development.
BACKGROUND: Research on early adversity, stress biology, and child development has grown exponentially in recent years. FINDINGS: We review the current evidence for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis as a stress-mediating mechanism between various forms of childhood adversity and psychopathology. We begin with a review of the neurobiology of the axis and evidence for relations between early adversity-HPA axis activity and HPA axis activity-psychopathology, as well as discuss the role of regulatory mechanisms and sensitive periods in development. CONCLUSIONS: We call attention to critical gaps in the literature to highlight next steps in this research including focus on developmental timing, sex differences, stress buffering, and epigenetic regulation. A better understanding of individual differences in the adversity-HPA axis-psychopathology associations will require continued work addressing how multiple biological and behavioral systems work in concert to shape development.
Authors: Paula L Ruttle; Elizabeth A Shirtcliff; Jeffrey M Armstrong; Marjorie H Klein; Marilyn J Essex Journal: Dev Psychobiol Date: 2013-06-15 Impact factor: 3.038
Authors: Tory A Eisenlohr-Moul; Adam B Miller; Matteo Giletta; Paul D Hastings; Karen D Rudolph; Matthew K Nock; Mitchell J Prinstein Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2018-09-06 Impact factor: 7.853