CORTISOL REACTIVITY, DISTRESS BEHAVIOR, AND BEHAVIORAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL-PROBLEMS IN YOUNG ADOLESCENTS - A LONGITUDINAL PERSPECTIVE

Cortisol levels, observed distress behavior, behavior problems, and sy mptoms of anxiety and depression are examined in young adolescents. Th e longitudinal design consists of three times of measurement, at 6-mon th intervals. We (1) examine covariations among cortisol level and ext ent of distress behavior in adolescents experiencing a challenging sit uation, (2) identify intraindividual patterns of change in cortisol le vel (cortisol reactivity) during the novel and challenging situation a t the first time of measurement, (3) examine longitudinal changes in c ortisol reactivity and distress behavior, and (4) examine relations be tween patterns of cortisol reactivity and behavior and psychological p roblems 1 year later. Significant decreases in distress behavior are f ound across the 1-year period, whereas changes in cortisol level vary by gender. Cortisol level and extent of distress behavior are related under the most novel and challenging circumstance. Intraindividual dif ferences in cortisol reactivity in the challenging situation are ident ified: some adolescents increase, some do not change, and others decre ase in cortisol level. Adolescents in the increase cortisol reactivity group report more behavior problems and symptoms of depression a year later than do adolescents who do not change or decrease in cortisol l evel.