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Scholarly Works (2 results)

  • Thesis
  • Peer Reviewed
UC Irvine Electronic Theses and Dissertations (2023)

Few studies investigate the impact of psychosocial stress on acute testosterone activity in adolescents, despite theoretical understandings that testosterone’s relationship with aggressive behavior is dependent upon stress or challenge contexts. Effective administration of laboratory stress, biospecimen collection and storage protocol, and testosterone assaying processes are all important methodological considerations that may explain why the link between testosterone and acute stress response remains unclear in this population. Additionally, the biopsychosocial factors that may predict acute testosterone reactivity in this population also remains unknown. As such, the current study addresses these gaps by examining testosterone activity (via salivary samples) across the administration of a Trier Social Stress Test in a sample of 88 adolescents (46.4% female, Mage = 13.91 years, SDage = 1.57). A series of nine biopsychosocial factors (age, gender, pubertal status, affective reactivity, prosocial behaviors, conduct problems, emotional and behavioral regulation, and exposure to early life adversity) were examined as potential predictors of (1) overall testosterone levels and (2) acute changes of testosterone across the administration of laboratory stress. Results indicated a robust response to psychosocial stress, supporting the notion that testosterone mounts an acute stress response in adolescents. However, only age and sex uniquely predicted overall testosterone and acute reactivity to stress in this sample. These findings suggest a methodological framework for capturing testosterone reactivity to acute stress, and provide evidence for future research to clarify the role of testosterone reactivity in adolescent behavior.

    Cover page: Biopsychosocial predictors of testosterone and its reactivity to acute psychosocial stress in adolescentsCreative Commons 'BY' version 4.0 license
    • Article
    • Peer Reviewed
    UC Irvine Previously Published Works (2021)

    Purpose

    The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to slow the spread of disease have particularly affected the lives of adolescents. Many studies have recently identified the risks to adolescent mental health posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet few have identified the markers of resilience to the events and concerns associated with the pandemic's lived experience. This study examined the moderating role of psychosocial resources in the association between the tangible and emotional experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic and symptoms of common psychiatric problems during adolescence (depression, anxiety, proactive and reactive aggression, and sleep problems).

    Methods

    Participants were adolescents in the United States who were oversampled for early life adversity before the COVID-19 pandemic. The psychosocial resources assessed were humor styles, emotion regulation, social support, optimism, and purpose in life, which have previously been identified as protective in the acute aftermath of stressful events.

    Results

    Greater COVID-19 impact was associated with more anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbance, and proactive aggression. COVID-19 impact and psychiatric symptoms were unrelated among youth reporting high self-enhancing humor and cognitive reappraisal.

    Conclusions

    Adolescents high in humor and cognitive reappraisal may be protected against the mental health correlates of the COVID-19 pandemic and other prolonged stressors. Importantly, these factors are known to be modifiable through behavioral interventions. Attention to their effectiveness in prevention and intervention studies is needed as the pandemic continues to exert its impact on individuals and society.
      Cover page: Predictors of Adolescent Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cognitive Reappraisal and Humor
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