Behavioral disinhibition and cortisol reactivity as a function of psychosocial stress and personality in adolescents

Finy, M. Sima

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/34576 Copy

Description

Title

Behavioral disinhibition and cortisol reactivity as a function of psychosocial stress and personality in adolescents

Author(s)

Finy, M. Sima

Issue Date

2012-09-18T21:26:18Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Verona, Edelyn

Department of Study

Psychology

Discipline

Psychology

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.A.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Impulsivity
• risk-taking
• Cortisol
• Constraint (CON)
• Negative Emotionality (NEM)
• Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ)
• Stress
• Adolescents
• Behavioral Disinhibition
• Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C)

Abstract

Although the developmental period of adolescence is characterized by impulsive and risk-taking behaviors, explanations for the range of behavioral disinhibition across adolescents that include biological, personality, and environmental factors have not been fully elucidated. Additionally, these factors may affect changes in stress responses that occur during this period. To inform this area of research, we examined the interaction between psychosocial stress exposure and the personality traits of Negative Emotionality (NEM) and Constraint (CON) on behavioral disinhibition (as indexed by impulsivity and riskiness tasks) and salivary cortisol reactivity in a sample of 88 adolescents. Results demonstrated that NEM and CON were protective of impulsivity and riskiness, respectively, for adolescents in the no-stress condition. Importantly, low CON adolescents in the no-stress condition were more risky than low CON adolescents in the stress condition, while there was no effect of Stress Group for high CON adolescents. Further, low CON adolescents exposed to psychosocial stress exhibited greater cortisol reactivity compared to high CON adolescents, suggesting that individuals low in CON may mobilize greater resources (e.g., cortisol reactivity, cognitive control) in stressful relative to non-stressful situations. Results suggest that distinct facets of behavioral disinhibition are differentially affected by stress and personality traits in adolescents.

Graduation Semester

2012-08

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/34576

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 M Sima Finy

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