Greater lifetime stress exposure predicts blunted cortisol but heightened DHEA responses to acute stress.

ABSTRACT: Although prior research has examined how early adversity and chronic stress exposure relate to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to acute stress, to date, no studies have examined how stressors occurring over the entire lifespan predict such responses. To address this issue, we recruited 61 healthy young adults and measured their exposure to 55 different types of acute life events and chronic difficulties occurring over the lifespan. In addition, we characterized differences in participants' HPA axis responses to acute stress by measuring their salivary cortisol and DHEA responses to the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups. Greater cumulative stress exposure was associated with a blunted cortisol response, but a heightened DHEA response, to the acute stressor. Moreover, i

SUBMITTER: Lam JCW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6377358 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature