From: Is HPA axis reactivity in childhood gender-specific? A systematic review
Author (year) | Sample size | Age | Sampling points | Sampling medium | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bae (2015) | 169 (81 controls) | 10.8 ± 1.8 years | 8× (3 before, 5 after) | Saliva | No sex differences; pubertal status not associated with reactivity |
Bouma (2009) | 644 | 16.13 ± 0.59 years | 5× (2 before, 3 after) (Groningen Social Stress Test) | Saliva | Cortisol responses were stronger in boys |
Bouma (2011) | 553 | 16.07 ± 0.90 years | 4× (1 before, 3 after) (Groningen Social Stress Test) | Saliva | Boys had higher cortisol levels on sample 2 |
De Veld (2012) | 158 | 10.61 ± 0.52 years | 7× (2 before, 5 after) | Saliva | Cortisol response stronger in girls |
Dockray (2009) | 111 | Boys: 9, 11, or 13 years; girls: 8, 10, or 12 years | 5×, 2 before, 3 after | Saliva | No sex differences; age but not pubertal stage associated with reactivity in girls, no associations in boys. |
Evans (2013) | 707 | 13.77 ± 3.56 years | After each period/task, at the middle of the documentary, and at the end of it (in figure 2: 6 samples, 2 before, 4 during/after) (social stress tests based on TSST) | Saliva | In children (7–12): lower cortisol reactivity in boys experiencing less emotional warmth |
Adolescents (13–20): no sex differences | |||||
Gunnar (2009) | 82 | Four age groups: 9 (9.79 ± 0.16), 11 (11.57 ± 0.15), 13 (13.55 ± 0.46), and 15 (15.55 ± 0.47) | 10×, 3 before, 7 after | Saliva | No sex differences, except higher cortisol reactivity in girls at age 13 |
Hostinar (2014) | 191 | 14.4 ± 1.93 years | 6× (2 before, 4 after) (TSST for groups) | Saliva | No sex differences; higher intercepts and greater anticipatory responses with increasing age, pubertal status not assessed |
Hostinar (2015) | 81 (40 children, 41 adolescents) | Children: 9.97 ± 0.52 years; adolescents: 16.05 ± 0.39 years | 4× (1 before, 3 after) | Saliva | Stronger response in 9–10-year old girls, no sex differences among adolescents |
Ji (2016) | 135 | Boys: 9, 11, or 13 years; girls: 8, 10, or 12 years | 5× (2 before, 3 after) | Saliva | At wave 3 (each wave separated by 6 months): girls have stronger reaction to stressor; no sex differences in recovery |
Jones (2006) | 140 | 7–9 years | 7× (3 before, 4 after) | Saliva | Anticipatory rise in both, further increment in girls |
Kudielka (2004) | 31 | 12.1 ± 0.3 years | 5×, 1 before, 4 after | Saliva | No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed |
Lu (2014) | 87 | 12.7 ± 0.3 years | 9×, not specified when | Saliva | More negative logAUCi in girls (less increase) |
Martikainen (2013) | 252 | 8.1 ± 0.3 years | 7× (2 before, 5 after) | Saliva | Higher peak, AUCg, and AUCi in girls |
Martin (2011) | 40 | 16–18 years | 7× (1 before, 6 after) | Saliva | No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed |
Mrug (2016) | 84 | 13.36 ± 0.95 years | 3×, 1 before, 2 after | Saliva | Higher post-test cortisol and AUCi in girls |
Peckins (2012) | 124 | 10.49 ± 1.68 years; boys: 9, 11, or 13 years; girls: 8, 10, or 12 years | 5×, 2 before, 3 after | Saliva | No sex differences; pubertal status not associated with reactivity |
Portnoy (2015) | 446 | 11.92 ± 0.59 years | 4×, 1 before, 3 after | Saliva | No sex differences in AUCg; pubertal status not associated with reactivity |
Raikkonen (2010) | 292 | 8.1 ± 0.3 years | 7× (2 before, 5 after) | Saliva | Boys lower than girls |
Strahler (2010) | 62 | 6–10 years | 4×, 1 before, 3 after | Saliva | No sex differences; pubertal status not assessed |
Trickett (2014) | 303 maltreated, 151 control | Maltreated: 10.84 ± 1.16 years; comparison: 11.11 ± 1.15 years | 6× (2 before, 4 after) | Saliva | Cortisol response blunted in girls compared to boys |