Temperamental Low PE and HPA Reactivity in Preschoolers

描述（由申请人提供）： 抑郁症一直与HPA轴的失调有关，HPA轴是主要的生理应激反应系统。拟议的研究项目将探讨低积极情绪（PE），一个可能的气质抑郁症的前兆，HPA功能在学龄前儿童实验室压力诱导任务后，在他们的家庭环境之间的关系。虽然一些研究已经研究了其他气质因素之间的关系（例如，行为抑制）和HPA反应性之间的关系，迄今为止还没有研究检查低PE和HPA反应性之间的关系。儿童的气质将在实验室进行观察，父母的精神病理学史，亲子关系质量，以及儿童的抑郁症状，将进行评估。将使用唾液皮质醇（HPA系统的主要激素产物）样本评估HPA功能。除了早晨和晚上的家庭样本外，还将采集基础唾液皮质醇样本和3份任务后样本。混合效应模型将被用来预测学龄前儿童的HPA反应，从他们的气质风格，家族史，和亲子关系质量。本研究还将探讨父母的情绪障碍和/或亲子关系质量是否适度低PE和HPA反应性之间的关系。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Depression has consistently been associated with dysregulation of the HPA axis, the major physiological stress response system. The proposed research project will examine the relation between low positive emotionality (PE), a possible temperamental precursor to depression, and HPA functioning in preschoolers after a laboratory stress-inducing task and in their home environment. While several studies have examined the relation between other temperamental factors (e.g., behavioral inhibition) and HPA reactivity, no studies to date have examined the relation between low PE and HPA reactivity. Observations of children's temperament will be conducted in the laboratory, and parental history of psychopathology, parent-child relationship quality, as well as children's depressive symptoms, will be assessed. HPA functioning will be assessed using samples of salivary cortisol, a primary hormonal product of the HPA system. A basal salivary cortisol sample and 3 post-task samples will be collected, in addition to a morning and evening home sample. Mixed effects modeling will be used to predict preschoolers' HPA reactivity from their temperamental style, family history, and parent-child relationship quality. This study will also examine whether parental history of mood disorders and/or parent-child relationship quality moderate the relation between low PE and HPA reactivity.