Adolescent borderline personality traits and dyadic behavior shape mother-adolescent cortisol synchrony.

Fleck, Leonie; Fuchs, Anna; Lerch, Stefan; Möhler, Eva; Koenig, Julian; Resch, Franz; Kaess, Michael (2023). Adolescent borderline personality traits and dyadic behavior shape mother-adolescent cortisol synchrony. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 10(1), p. 12. BioMed Central 10.1186/s40479-023-00218-z

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BACKGROUND

Associations between parent and child cortisol levels ("cortisol synchrony") are often reported and positive synchrony may mark dyadic regulation on a physiological level. Although dyadic behavior during interaction and adolescent borderline personality disorder (BPD) traits are linked with individual and dyadic regulatory capacities, little is known about how both factors influence parent-adolescent cortisol synchrony. We hypothesized that cortisol synchrony would differ depending on behavioral synchrony, i.e., smooth reciprocal dyadic interaction patterns, adolescent BPD traits, and their interactions.

METHODS

Multilevel state-trait modeling was implemented to investigate associations between concurrent mother-adolescent state cortisol and mother-adolescent average cortisol levels in a community sample of 76 mother-adolescent dyads. Three saliva samples were collected across interaction paradigms. Behavioral synchrony was observed, and adolescent BPD traits were evaluated using clinical interviews.

RESULTS

First, behavioral synchrony and absence of BPD traits were linked with positive associations between adolescent and maternal state cortisol (positive synchrony), BPD traits with negative associations (negative synchrony). When interaction effects were examined, results were more nuanced. In low-risk dyads (higher behavioral synchrony, no BPD traits) asynchrony was found. When risk (BPD traits) and resource (higher behavioral synchrony) were combined, synchrony was positive. Lastly, in high-risk dyads (lower behavioral synchrony, adolescent BPD traits), negative synchrony was observed. Average adolescent and maternal cortisol levels were consistently positively associated in dyads with higher risk.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive dyadic interaction patterns are associated with positive state cortisol synchrony in mother-adolescent dyads and could buffer the effect of BPD traits, possibly supporting the process of physiological regulation.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Lerch, Stefan, Kaess, Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

2051-6673

Publisher:

BioMed Central

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

12 Apr 2023 09:22

Last Modified:

16 Apr 2023 02:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1186/s40479-023-00218-z

PubMed ID:

37041602

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Adolescence BPD Cortisol Mother–child interaction Synchrony

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/181667

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/181667

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