Non-linear associations between HPA axis activity during infancy and mental health difficulties during early childhood among children in rural Pakistan.
Frost A, Hagaman A, Baranov V, Chung EO, Bhalotra S, Sikander S, Maselko J. Non-linear associations between HPA axis activity during infancy and mental health difficulties during early childhood among children in rural Pakistan. Development And Psychopathology 2022, 35: 2086-2095. PMID: 35959681, PMCID: PMC9922341, DOI: 10.1017/s0954579422000773.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHPA axis activityMental health difficultiesAxis activityHealth difficultiesEarly childhoodHypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis activityPituitary-adrenal axis activitySDQ scoresAdrenal axis activityNon-linear associationLongitudinal cohortDepression trialsQuadratic associationHair cortisolDehydroepiandosteroneRural PakistanMental healthCortisolEarly adversitySignificant quadratic associationDifficulties QuestionnaireLow-resource contextsChildhoodChildrenAssociation