Frontiers in psychology
Associations among hair cortisol-to-DHEA ratio, psychological capital, harsh parenting, and internalizing problems in adolescence
By Liu Y, Qi X, Tao D and 3 others.
Abstract
Introduction
Internalizing problems are increasingly prevalent among Chinese students in junior high school, and posing significant risks for long-term maladjustment. However, the mechanisms underlying these problems are unclear. The present study aimed to test the moderating effects of psychological capital and harsh parenting in the association between the hair cortisol-to-DHEA (C/D) ratio and internalizing problems in adolescence.
Methods
282 junior high school students in China participated in this study (114 boys, 166 girls, and 2 with missing sex data; Mage = 12.82 years). They provided hair samples and completed questionnaires on psychological capital, internalizing problems, harsh parenting of their parents, and control variables including sex, age, family socioeconomic status, negative life events, and body mass index. Hair concentrations of cortisol and DHEA were determined via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.