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Table 2 Summary of articles describing sex differences in cortisol awakening response (CAR)

From: Is HPA axis reactivity in childhood gender-specific? A systematic review

Author (year)

Sample size

Age

Sampling points

Sampling medium

Results

Adam (2010)

230

17.04 ± 0.36 years

0 and 40 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Bae (2015)

138 (70 controls)

10.7 ± 1.7 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Higher levels in girls at awakening and 30 min after awakening, no sex differences in awakening response

Bouma (2009)

644

16.13 ± 0.59 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Higher basal levels in girls, no difference in awakening responses

Bright (2014)

47

12–24 months

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Dietrich (2013)

1604

11.1 ± 0.55 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

AUCg and absolute cortisol values higher in girls, AUCi no sex differences

Fransson (2014)

157

14–16 years

0, 30, and 60 min after awakening

Saliva

Higher CAR in girls

Hatzinger (2007)

102

4.91 ± 0.44 years

0, 10, 20, and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Higher CAR in girls

Jones (2006)

140

7–9 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

CAR present in boys, not in girls

Kuhlman (2015)

121

12.8 ± 2.3 years

0 and 45 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Martikainen (2013)

252

8.1 ± 0.3 years

0, 15, and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Higher AUCg in girls, same increase and AUCi

Michels (2012)

385

5–10 years

0, 30, and 60 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Morin-Major (2016)

88

14.5 ± 1.8 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Correlated to sex, higher CAR in girls

Osika (2007)

84

9.9 ± 0.55 years

0 and 15 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Pruessner (1997)

42

11.16 ± 1.99 years

On 3 days: 0, 10, 20, and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

Marginal differences: higher in girls

Susman (2007)

111

Boys: 9, 11, or 13 years; girls: 8, 10, or 12 years

0, 20, and 40 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not associated with reactivity

Tzortzi (2009)

21

10–14 years

From waking: every 20 min until 3 h after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Vanaelst (2013)

355

5–10 years

0, 30, and 60 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed

Williams (2013)

27

9.13 ± 1.41 years

0 and 30 min after awakening

Saliva

No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed