Individual differences in early adolescents’ latent trait cortisol: Interaction of early adversity and 5-HTTLPR

•Greater early adversity was linked to lower latent trait cortisol (LTC).•5-HTTLPR moderated the association between early adversity and LTC.•The inverse link of early adversity and LTC was larger among L-carriers of 5-HTTLPR.•5-HTTLPR may contribute to the variability in cortisol responses to adver...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2017-10, Vol.129, p.8-15
Main Authors: Chen, Frances R., Stroud, Catherine B., Vrshek-Schallhorn, Suzanne, Doane, Leah D., Granger, Douglas A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
5-HTTLPR
Adolescence
Adolescent
Child
Circadian Rhythm
Early adversity
Female
Genetic Variation - physiology
Genotype
Humans
Hydrocortisone - analysis
Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology
Individuality
Latent trait cortisol
Life Change Events
Mothers - psychology
Phenotype
Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology
Psychopathology
Saliva - chemistry
Salivary cortisol
Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins - genetics
Stress, Psychological - genetics
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
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Summary:•Greater early adversity was linked to lower latent trait cortisol (LTC).•5-HTTLPR moderated the association between early adversity and LTC.•The inverse link of early adversity and LTC was larger among L-carriers of 5-HTTLPR.•5-HTTLPR may contribute to the variability in cortisol responses to adversity. The present study aimed to examine the interaction of 5-HTTLPR and early adversity on trait-like levels of cortisol. A community sample of 117 early adolescent girls (M age=12.39years) provided DNA samples for 5-HTTLPR genotyping, and saliva samples for assessing cortisol 3 times a day (waking, 30min post-waking, and bedtime) over a three-day period. Latent trait cortisol (LTC) was modeled using the first 2 samples of each day. Early adversity was assessed with objective contextual stress interviews with adolescents and their mothers. A significant 5-HTTLPR×early adversity interaction indicated that greater early adversity was associated with lower LTC levels, but only among individuals with either L/L or S/L genotype. Findings suggest that serotonergic genetic variation may influence the impact of early adversity on individual differences in HPA-axis regulation. Future research should explore whether this interaction contributes to the development of psychopathology through HPA axis functioning.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.07.017