Daily and trait rumination: diurnal cortisol patterns in adolescent girls

ABSTRACT

Rumination is a maladaptive form of emotion regulation associated with psychopathology. Research with adults suggests that rumination covaries with diurnal cortisol rhythms, yet this has not been examined among adolescents. Here, we examine the day-to-day covariation between rumination and cortisol, and explore whether trait rumination is associated with alterations in diurnal cortisol rhythms among adolescent girls. Participants (N = 122) provided saliva samples 3 times per day over 3 days, along with daily reports of stress and rumination, questionnaires assessing trait rumination related to peer stress, and diagnostic interviews assessing depression and anxiety. Greater rumination than usual during the day was associated with lower cortisol awakening responses the following morning, but this effect was not significant after accounting for wake time and an objective measure of adherence to the saliva sampling protocol. Trait rumination was associated with lower average cortisol levels at waking and flatter diurnal slopes, accounting for wake time, protocol compliance, and other factors. These patterns may help to explain why rumination is related to the development of psychopathology.

KEYWORDS:

• Cortisol
• adolescence
• rumination
• HPA axis
• stress

Acknowledgements

We thank the families who generously gave their time to participate in this project as well as the staff of the Williams College Youth Emotion Center.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Michael R. Sladek http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1697-438X

Notes

1. There were not significant differences between those who did and did not complete the cortisol assessment on child age, family income, pubertal status, trait rumination, or depressive and anxiety symptoms (ps > .10). One father, who identified himself as the primary caregiver, participated with his daughter in the present study. In addition, three sibling pairs were included. However, results were identical when the father–daughter dyad and when one of the siblings were excluded. Full results upon request.

2. There were not significant differences between those who did and did not complete the online questionnaires on child age, family income, pubertal status, depressive and anxiety symptoms or the cortisol indices (ps > .10).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by institutional funds from Williams College. MRS was supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. [DGE-1311230], and LDD was supported by a William T. Grant Foundation Scholar Award and by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01HD079520.