Neuroendocrine coordination and youth behavior problems: A review of studies assessing sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis activity using salivary alpha amylase and salivary cortisol

• Published in: Hormones and behavior Vol. 122; p. 104750
• Main Authors: Jones, Emily J., Rohleder, Nicolas, Schreier, Hannah M.C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Adolescent; Age Factors; Child; Cortisol; Externalizing behavior; Female; Humans; Hydrocortisone - analysis; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; Individuality; Internalizing behavior; Male; Neurosecretory Systems - metabolism; Neurosecretory Systems - physiology; Neurosecretory Systems - physiopathology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Problem Behavior - psychology; Saliva - chemistry; Saliva - metabolism; Salivary alpha amylase; Salivary alpha-Amylases - analysis; Salivary alpha-Amylases - metabolism; Stress, Psychological - metabolism; Stress, Psychological - physiopathology; Sympathetic nervous system; Sympathetic Nervous System - metabolism; Young Adult; Salivary alpha amylase; Internalizing behavior; Hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis; Cortisol; Sympathetic nervous system; Externalizing behavior
• ISSN: 0018-506X; 1095-6867
• DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104750

Externalizing and internalizing behavior problems can have deleterious psychosocial consequences for youth. Both sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis activity and reactivity may contribute to behavior problems but have largely been studied separately, with inconsistent findings. Because the SNS and HPA axis interact to carry out physiological processes (e.g., responding to stressors), considering SNS and HPA axis activity jointly may elucidate disparate findings. This review discusses studies that simultaneously assessed SNS and HPA axis (re)activity and youth behavior problems using measures of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) and salivary cortisol. Multiple patterns of SNS and HPA axis coordination were associated with problem behaviors, especially when considering individual differences and youth's psychosocial context. Importantly, many study findings may be artifacts of widespread methodological differences. The reviewed studies lay the foundation for future research on neuroendocrine coordination as a contributing factor to youth problem behaviors and some recommendations for future research are discussed. •To date, SNS and HPA axis (re)activity have been studied largely separately.•Multiple patterns connect SNS and HPA coordination to youth behavior problems.•Research supports both additive and interactive hypotheses of SNS-HPA coordination.•Inconsistent study findings may be due to widespread methodological differences.•Research on SNS-HPA coordination must consider psychosocial contexts.