Stress Reactivity in Maltreated and Comparison Male and Female Young Adolescents

The purpose of the present report was to examine the association of recent maltreatment experiences with cortisol reactivity in young adolescents. The ethnically diverse sample consisted of boys and girls 9 to 12 years of age. The maltreatment group (N = 303) all had recent, substantiated reports to protective services for neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or emotional maltreatment. The comparison group (N = 151) was recruited from the same neighborhoods and was demographically similar to the maltreatment group. Cortisol reactivity was assessed by a laboratory stressor, a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test for Children. Statistical analyses indicated that the maltreated young adolescents showed a blunted or attenuated response to the stressor as compared with those in the comparison group. This attenuated response was especially pronounced for those whose maltreatment included physical and/or sexual abuse. A main effect for gender was also found with boys having higher cortisol than girls. Implications for treatment of mental and physical health problems associated with child maltreatment and for prevention of developmental problems across the life span are discussed.