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School commute time, chronotype, and altered HPA axis functioning during adolescence.

Maira Karan1, Danny Rahal1, David M Almeida2

  • 1University of California, Los Angeles, 760 Westwood Plaza, Box 62, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1759, USA.

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Summary

Longer school commutes and evening chronotypes in adolescents are linked to a higher cortisol awakening response (CAR), indicating altered stress system functioning. This finding suggests potential implications for adolescent mental health and stress levels.

Keywords:
AdolescenceChronotypeCommuteHPA axis functioningSchool

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Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Adolescent Health
  • Chronobiology

Background:

  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates stress response and is influenced by daily demands.
  • Adolescence involves significant changes in circadian rhythms and HPA axis activity.
  • School commute, a daily stressor, is understudied in relation to adolescent HPA axis functioning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between school commute time and HPA axis functioning in adolescents.
  • To examine the moderating role of chronotype on the relationship between commute time and HPA axis markers.
  • To assess the impact of commute duration on cortisol awakening response (CAR) and diurnal slope.

Main Methods:

  • Salivary cortisol samples collected upon waking, 15, and 30 minutes post-waking for CAR calculation.
  • Cortisol levels measured at dinnertime and bedtime to determine diurnal slope.
  • Sleep actigraphy and self-reported school commute times collected from 269 adolescents (mean age 16.38 years).

Main Results:

  • Longer school commute times were associated with a heightened CAR in adolescents.
  • Adolescents with an evening chronotype and longer commutes showed a significantly higher CAR.
  • No significant association was found between commute time and the diurnal slope of cortisol.

Conclusions:

  • School commute duration, particularly for evening-type adolescents, may disrupt HPA axis regulation, specifically the CAR.
  • A heightened CAR is linked to poorer mental health outcomes and increased stress.
  • Findings highlight the need to consider daily environmental stressors and individual chronobiology in adolescent well-being.