The Effects of Psychosocial School Environment on Biological Stress Responses among Japanese School-aged Children
| Project/Area Number |
16300222
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| Research Category |
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
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| Allocation Type | Single-year Grants |
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| Section | 一般 |
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| Research Field |
Applied health science
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| Research Institution | University of the Ryukyus |
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Principal Investigator |
TAKAKURA Minoru University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (70163186)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
KOBAYASHI Miroru University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Education, Associate Professor, 教育学部, 助教授 (70336353)
WAKE Norie University of the Ryukyus, Faculty of Medicine, lecturer, 医学部, 講師 (90315474)
安仁屋 洋子 琉球大学, 大学院・医学研究科, 教授 (90045055)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2004 – 2006
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| Project Status |
Completed (Fiscal Year 2006)
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| Budget Amount *help |
¥8,200,000 (Direct Cost: ¥8,200,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Fiscal Year 2005: ¥3,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥3,500,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,500,000)
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| Keywords | school-aged children / school environment / salivary cortisol / stress-related hormone / psychosocial factor / psychological stress |
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| Research Abstract |
In order to determine relationships between biological stress responses and psychosocial school factors among Japanese school-aged children, we measured salivary cortisol concentrations and examined the effects of psychosocial school environment on the cortisol levels among elementary and junior high school students.
Subjects were 348 sixth graders (ages 11-12) at 10 public elementary schools and 328 eighth graders (ages 13-14) at 10 public junior high school students in Okinawa, Japan. Among them, 268 children and 260 junior high students who obtained written consent from the guardians were conducted self-administered questionnaires and saliva sampling. Saliva samples were collected at 10:30-10:40 and 15:30-16:00 at each school by using Salivette. Cortisol concentrations were determined by Radioimmunoassay kits. We calculated "Area under the curve with respect to increase (AUC_I)" and "Area under the curve with respect to ground (AUC_G)" from two saliva samples to examine the daytime c
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ortisol profile.
The cortisol levels showed the expected diurnal rhythm with high morning and low evening levels among both elementary school children and junior high school students. Elementary school girls had significantly higher cortisol levels than boys. As for elementary school children, less support from parents were related to lower levels of morning cortisol for boys. For girls, less support from teachers were related to lower levels of evening cortisol and AUC_G. Additionally, girls' unrealistic expectations from teachers and parents were negatively associated with AUC_I levels. As for junior high school students, there were no differences in any cortisol levels according to other life style and health condition variables. Any psychosocial school environment factors were not significantly related to the-levels of cortisol concentrations.
These findings show that salivary cortisol levels were associated with children's perceived support and unrealistic expectations from teachers and parents, suggesting the flattened diurnal cortisol curve. Less
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Report
(4 results)
Research Products
(35 results)
