Depressive Symptoms and Acute HPA Axis Stress Regulation in the Context of Adolescent Girls’ Friendships

Friendships may promote stress management and buffer against internalizing symptoms in adolescent girls. Few studies have examined connections between friendship processes and biological stress regulation. This study examined whether expressed vulnerability (negative self-directed thoughts and emotions) and friend support in response to a social stressor were associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses in 241 girls (ages 12-17) with elevated psychological symptoms. Expressed vulnerability and friend support were observationally coded during post-stressor conversations with a friend. A significant interaction indicated that high expressed vulnerability predicted more adaptive cortisol regulation in the context of high but not low friend support. Low expressed vulnerability corresponded with the most ineffective cortisol regulation, regardless of friend support. Findings highlight interpersonal processes in girls’ friendships that may reduce allostatic load and risk for internalizing symptoms.Doctor of Philosoph