Hormones

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Hormones the Environment
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Hormones the Environment
The environment surrounding us provides a number
of Different stressors, observable at different
levels Macro-Structure Cultural
Stress Socioeconomic status Micro-Structure
Social Status among groups
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Hormones the Environment
1. Macro-Structure Cultural Factors
The stressors for a culture will depend on
ecological conditions
Stable Unstable
-E.g. Disaster, Political etc. -High Stress -Low
Adapation -Low institutional support Survival
New adaptation
-Low stress -High Adaptation -Good Institutional
support
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Hormones the Environment
1. Macro-Structure Cultural Factors
The stressors on a culture will depend on
ecological conditions
Stable Unstable
Survival New adaptation
Cultural Stress Accultural Stress
-Cultural changes Are introduced From
OUTSIDE E.g. Immigration
-Novel situations WITHIN the culture Place
demands on Individuals E.g. government
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Hormones the Environment
1.2 Macro-Structure Cultural Stress
If there are changes WITHIN the culture and
people Fail to ADAPT (by changing their behaviors
as a group) Then these cultures will
disappear E.g. the  Ik  of Northern
Uganda Before live by hunting and fishing Their
territory taken away by government These people
lost their usual way of coping Maladaptive
strategy  everyone for himself  Lost of the
culture .. Very similar to our native
nations.
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Hormones the Environment
1.2 Macro-Structure Accultural Stress
Acculturation Cultural and psychological
changes that follow from contact bewtween two or
more cultural groups e.g. immigration
Here, the stressors are mainly related To the
necessary adaptation to the Encountering of the
new cultural Group --gt Acculturative stress
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Hormones the Environment
1.2 Macro-Structure Acculturative Stress
In order to ADAPT to acculturative stress many
strategies 1. Assimilation Individuals from
the non-dominant group do not wish to maintain
their cultural identity and seek daily
interactions with the other culture 2.
Separation Individuals place a value on
holding on to their original culture and wish
to avoid interaction with others 3. Integration
There is an interest from individuals in
maintaining one s original culture, as well as
initiating contact with the others 4.
Marginalization Due to impossibility to
maintain cultural contacts or to little
interest in having relations with others
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Hormones the Environment
1.2 Macro-Structure Acculturative Stress
Continuum of successful adapation to
acculturative stress As a function of the adopted
coping strategies
Integration
Assimilation
Separation
Marginalization
High Success No success
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Hormones the Environment
1.2 Macro-Structure Socioeconomic Status
Within each culture (being stable, or unstable),
there are SOCIAL CLASSES that differ between each
other on Many factors, an important one being
STRESS
Vs...
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Hormones the Environment

• It is well known that individuals from higher
  Socioeconomic Status (SES) enjoy better physical
  and mental health than do individuals from low
  SES
• Risk of mortality (from infectious, parasitic,
  respiratory, and circulatory diseases) increases
  as a function of
• Employment Grade
• Occupational Status
• Income
• Years of Education

Stress has a strong Effect on health
Health
 Unequal social Distribution of stress ...
Socioeconomic Status (SES)
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Hormones the Environment
Facts

• The association between SES and health
  begins at the early stages of life

Langford et al., 1968

• The lower the SES of parents, the higher the
  blood pressure of school children

• Learning disorders and emotional problems occur
  at greater frequency among children of low SES

Anderson Armstead, 1995
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Hormones the Environment
Three Possible Mechanisms
1. Genetics

• Genetically based physical or mental factors
  might lead to lower social position and poorer
  health

• Plausible but improbable since the association
  between SES and health persists even after
  adjusting for factors such as height, body mass
  index and cognitive flexibility

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Hormones the Environment
2. Illness

• The association between SES and health is better
  explained by the influence of illness on SES,
  rather than of SES on illness

• Plausible, but the association between SES and
  health still persists after controlling for
  illness, nutrition etc.

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Hormones the Environment
3. Psychosocial

• SES may lead to behaviors and/or psychological
  traits that, in turn, will influence health status

• Income, education and occupation may shape an
  individuals life course and determine health

• Physical and social environments, and the
  associated vulnerability to interpersonal
  agression and violence, may be candidate
  variables that may contribute to the association
  between SES and health

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Hormones the Environment
Extension of the Psychosocial Hypothesis

• Another potential pathway by which SES may
  influence health is through differential exposure
  of individuals from low and high SES to stress

Vs..
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Hormones the Environment
Some Facts About Stress and SES

• Individuals lower in SES report greater exposure
  to stressful life events and a greater impact of
  these events on their life than individuals
  higher in SES

Cohen et al., 1985 Dohrenwend, 1973

• Higher SES decreases the likelihood of exposure
  to negative events such as social aggression and
  unhealthy behaviors

Dohrenwend Dohrenwend, 1970

• Individuals from low SES have less social support
  during stressful life events than individuals
  from high SES

Cohen, 1988
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Hormones the Environment
Chronic Stress Related To
-Cardiovascular disease -Birth Complications -Seri
ousness of chronic illness -Altered immune
function -and others.
Importance of Stress Hormones Cortisol
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Hormones the Environment
Increases in cortisol levels in humans related to

-Various Physical Illnesses (Munck et al.,
1984) -Depression (Sachar et al., 1983) -Memory
and Attentional Deficits
(Lupien et al., 1994 Kirschbaum et al., 1996)
Neonates and Children react to environmental
stressors with increases in cortisol levels
(Gunnar et al., 1989 Larson et al., 1991)
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Coping Strategies vary as a function of SES
Fight
Flight
Adaptation/Coping
Avoidance
Problem Solving Method
Good for Acute Stress Bad for chronic stress
-More frequent Avoiding stategies in Lower SES
-High SES Cognitive problem solving -Low SES
Emotional Problem solving
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Coping Strategies vary as a function of SES
Importance of SOCIAL SUPPORT
High SES Low SES
-Rely on familial support (continuation of
maladaptive Strategies)
-Rely on external support E.g. friends,
therapists etc.
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Hormones, SES Stress
2 Studies in children the most vulnerable and
those in whom we can try to prevent early the
negative impact of stress 1. Flinn England
(1997) Rural Dominican Society 2. Lupien et
al., (2000) Urban Montreal Society
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Hormones, SES Stress
1. Flinn England (1997) Children aged 2
months-18 years Location Bwa Mawego rural
area in Dominican Republic Goal Identify
specific psychosocial causes and consequences of
childhood stress 8 measures 1. Salivary
cortisol levels 2. Family composition 3.
Socioeconomic conditions 4. Caretaking
attention 5. Personality and Temperament 6.
Immune response 7. Health 8. Daily
activities emotional states
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Hormones, SES Stress
1. Flinn England (1997) RESULTS A.
Children in unstable family environments (e.g.
single mothers, step fathers, half siblings
etc) --gt More frequently ill B. Household
composition is related to stress hormones
levels e.g. unstable family environments
(absence of fathers) related to higher cortisol
levels Conclusion Children in unstable family
environment experience more chronic stress So,
high stress in children is more related to the
family environment than to SES However, family
environment is frequently associated with SES
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Hormones, SES Stress
2. Lupien et al., (2000) Urban population
(Montreal) Population Children from 6 to 16
years of age 6 grades Elementary 1, 3,
5 High School 1, 3, 5 4 Measures 1.
Morning salivary cortisol in children 2.
Cognitive function in children 3. Emotional
Plausibility in children 4. Stress and
Depression in mothers
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Hormones, SES Stress
Lupien et al., (2000)
RESULTS
Children from elementary 1,3,5 3 levels of
SES -Low -Medium -High SES differences in
cortisol Levels emerge as early as 6 Years of
age and more subtle Differences appear at 10 yrs
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Hormones, SES Stress
Lupien et al., (2000)
RESULTS
A child s cortisol levels Is significantly
related To his/her mother s Depressive
symptoms. Low SES mothers Tend to be more
Depressed.
Reactions of children to Their FAMILY ENVIRONMENT
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Significant Impact Of School Transition On
cortisol levels
No Gender Differences on Endocrine and Cognitive
Measures
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Hormones, SES Stress
Lupien et al., (2000)
Test of  Emotional Plausibility 
-An intelligent cow Possible Impossible -A
stupid lion Possible Impossible -A funny
horse Possible Impossible -An aggressive
monkey Possible Impossible
Score of 0 Nothing is more  possible  then
 impossible  Positive score Things are more
 possible  then  impossible  Negative score
Things are more  impossible  then  possible 
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Group X Age difference F(5,307)3.6 p.003
Lupien et al., 2001
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School Transition
1.4
1.2

1.0
Cortisol


0.8
0.6
Low SES
High SES


0.50

Possible
0.25


0.00
-0.25
Impossible
-0.50
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Interpretation
-Results consistent with an equalization process
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3 Possible Equalizing Influences
During Youth
West, 1997
Youth Latency Period -Achievement of
Independence -Diminution of Family
Influence -Increase of External Influence (Peer)
1. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
School Transition Marks the first major change
in status -Move from a relatively small, locally
based school, to a larger impersonal
unit -Move from being the older of the school
(advantages), to being the younger
-Sapolsky Importance of hierarchical status in
determining cortisol levels
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2. PEER GROUPS
Youth Peer based relations gt Family based
relations
-Significance of peer group increases markedly
around 12-13 yr of age (Claes, 1992)
Cortisol differences between SES disappeared at
that age
Possible that the cortisol differences observed
during childhood be related to higher stress
reactivity of low SES children to family
environment -Low SES parents Higher score of
depression Youth Family based relations
decrease, and so does cortisol
reactivity to the family environment
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3. YOUTH CULTURE
-Permeates both school based and peer group
experiences -Defines membership as a social
category of youth -This social category extends
beyond that of social class
The transition to the social category of youth
may be advantageous for low SES children, and
disadvantageous for high SES children
High SES parents Reported higher stress due to
social transitions (e.g. Child leaving the
house) -Possible that the absence of cortisol
differences observed during youth be due to the
INCREASE of cortisol levels in high SES
teenagers, and the DECREASE of cortisol levels
in low SES teenagers due to the influence of
youth culture
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Hormones the Environment
Importance of SOCIAL STATUS in determining
cortisol levels
SOCIAL STATUS Micro-structure Within smaller
groups High impact on secretion of stress
hormones First studies Olive Baboons
(Sapolsky et al) Others Humans (Kirschbaum et
al., )
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Sapolsky et al., (1995) --gt Studies in Olive
Baboons --gt Stable Dominance
hierarchies ie. the leader is seldom
challenged and everybody knows its role in
the society --gt Measure BASAL cortisol
levels (darting method) over long period of
times in dominant vs subordinates
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Sapolsky et al., (1995) RESULTS
DOMINANT Low basal Cortisol levels
SUBORDINATE
Higher basal Cortisol levels
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Sapolsky et al., (1995) RESULTS
Social Subordinance --gt High levels of
stressors --gt Lack of control --gt High
unpredictability
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Concomittant variables to the link between
cortisol and subordinance
1. Stability of the Hierarchy -Stable
--gt Dominant low cortisol --gt
Subordinate high cortisol -Unstable --
gt Dominant high cortisol --gt Subordinate low
cortisol Human example? Mom Boucher gets into a
crowded prison.
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Concomittant variables to the link between
cortisol and subordinance
2. Individual experience of the social rank -
Unstable interactions with those below
someone --gt HYPERCORTISOLISM Reason Bad
news, you re being challenged -Unstable
interactions with those above someone --gt No
change in cortisol Reason Good news,
you re gaining on them!
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Concomittant variables to the link between
cortisol and subordinance
3. Personality of the individual - Low
discrimination between win and loose --gt
HYPERCORTISOLISM -Styles of affiliative
behaviors --gt Low affiliative high
cortisol
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Hormones Social Subordinance
Human studies 1. Hellhammer et al., (1997)
Army recruits RESULTS No changes in basal
cortisol levels Dominant Higher reactivity
to stress Difference from animals Even the
dominants were subordinate to others 2.
Decker (2000) Men from Bwa Mawego Study the
men from the islands RESULTS higher cortisol
levels in those -Reputation of illicit
behaviors -Frequent distressed
mood -Fathers absent when they were young.
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Hormones, Stress Addiction

• Stress has been shown to increase
• Addictive behaviors in rats
• Addictive Behavior 3 variables
• Locomotor Activity
• Self-Administration
• Relapse (cue-induced)

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Hormones, Stress Addiction

• Drug Addiction
• Involvement of DOPAMINE
• Reward System
• Nucleus VTA
• Nucleus accumbens
• Projection to Frontal Lobe

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Hormones, Stress Addiction
STRESS Glucocorticoids Leads to
Dopamine
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Hormones, Stress Addiction
1. Glucocorticoids and Locomotor Activity

• Effects of Cocaine Increased LA
• Adrenalectomy Reduces Increased LA due to
  Cocaine
• Decreased LA by ADX is reversed dose-dependently
• by corticosterone administration
• These data are controlled for cocaine effects on
• increase in GC
• E.g. ADX rats with Cort replacement same
  effects as
• control rats, still cannot secrete further
  GC due to drugs.

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Hormones, Stress Addiction
2. Glucocorticoids and Self-Administration of
stimulants

• Effects of Cocaine Increased
  self-administration behavior
• Adrenalectomy Decreased reinforcing effects of
  cocaine on SA
• Decreased SA by ADX is reversed dose-dependently
• by corticosterone administration
• Blockade of corticosterone secretion (metyrapone,
  ketoconazole)
• reduces SA of cocaine

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Hormones, Stress Addiction
3. Glucocorticoids and Relapse

• Relapse Extinction period give cue related to
  drug, then see a
• return of drug effects on LA or SA
• Interestingly, glucocorticoids do not seem to
  have important
• effects on relapse induced by drug priming
• E.g. ADX does not prevent cocaine-induced
  reinstatement of
• cocaine self-administration

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Hormones, Stress Addiction

• Mecanisms of action of stress on SA and LA
• -Glucocorticoids increase DA activity in NAc
• -ADX reduces extracellular concentrations of DA
  in NAc
• -These effects are reversed by GC replacement
• -The effects of GC on DA are dependent on GR and
  NOT on MR
• Antagonist MR Does not modify extracellular
  level of DA
• in NAc
• Antagonist GR dose-dependently decrease DA in
  NAc
• GR activation related to stress, so stress
  involvement in addiction

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A social and developmental picture of stress
vulnerability
Family Environment -Absent Father -Depressed
Mother -Low SES -Everything seems
 impossible  -Low discrimination between win
loose
Social Environment -Low rank (job) in
society -Low control affiliative
behaviors -Higher Aggressivity
CHILD TEENS/ADULTS
Time
Stress Hormones
Drug Addiction
5 day care and its Possible impact on Low SES in
a few Years...