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Sex differences in biological response to peer rejection and performance challenge across development: A pilot study
Laura R Stroud1, George D Papandonatos2, Christina M D'Angelo3
1Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02906, United States; Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, United States.
Physiology & Behavior
|December 13, 2016
Summary
Children
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Stress response research
- Biological psychology
Background:
- Sex differences in stress response emerge during development.
- Understanding biological reactions to social and performance stressors is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex and developmental differences in biological stress responses.
- To compare responses to peer rejection versus performance challenges.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study with 59 children (ages 8-17).
- Measured salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (AA) during peer rejection and performance tasks.
- Compared responses across pre-pubertal and post-pubertal groups, and by sex.
Main Results:
- Post-pubertal girls showed higher alpha-amylase (AA) to rejection than performance.
- Pre-pubertal girls had higher cortisol and AA to performance tasks.
- Boys exhibited consistent cortisol responses to performance tasks across puberty.
- Boys showed equivalent alpha-amylase (AA) responses to performance versus rejection stressors.
Conclusions:
- Suggests heightened sensitivity to rejection in girls across development.
- Indicates a more malleable stress response in girls compared to boys.
- Highlights stability in boys' stress response patterns throughout development.
- Calls for larger, longitudinal studies to confirm findings.
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