Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cortisol Responsivity Differences in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders During Free and Cooperative Play

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) demonstrate significant heterogeneity in their profiles of social interaction and stress responsivity. We evaluated behavior and stress response in 52 male children ages 8–12 in a naturalistic playground interaction paradigm involving a child with ASD, a typically developing peer, and a same-age confederate. Younger children in the ASD group engaged in 5.8 times more approach behavior and showed a lower cortisol response than their older peers. Those that verbally initiated with their peers also showed a higher cortisol response. Older children with ASD exhibited the highest stress responsivity, while younger children with ASD showed more willingness to approach others without apparent stress. Intervening early and often may contribute to improvements in social engagement in youth with ASD.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adam, E. K. (2006). Transactions among adolescent trait and state emotion and diurnal and momentary cortisol activity in naturalistic settings. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31(5), 664–679.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • APA. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision) (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

  • Baron-Cohen, S., Golan, O., & Ashwin, E. (2009). Can emotion recognition be taught to children with autism spectrum conditions? Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, 364(1535), 3567–3574.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bellini, S. (2006). The development of social anxiety in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 21(3), 138–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boucher, J., Lewis, V., & Collis, G. (1998). Familiar face and voice matching and recognition in children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 39(2), 171–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buske-Kirschbaum, A., Jobst, S., Wustmans, A., Kirschbaum, C., Rauh, W., & Hellhammer, D. (1997). Attenuated free cortisol response to psychosocial stress in children with atopic dermatitis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 59(4), 419–426.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chandler, S., Charman, T., Baird, G., Simonoff, E., Loucas, T., Meldrum, D., et al. (2007). Validation of the social communication questionnaire in a population cohort of children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 46(10), 1324–1332.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Church, C., Alisanski, S., & Amanullah, S. (2000). The social, behavioral, and academic experiences of children with Asperger syndrome. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilties, 15(1), 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, B. A., Mendoza, S., Abdullah, M., Wegelin, J. A., & Levine, S. (2006). Cortisol circadian rhythms and response to stress in children with autism. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 31(1), 59–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, B. A., Mendoza, S., Wegelin, J. A., Carmean, V., & Levine, S. (2008). Variable cortisol circadian rhythms in children with autism and anticipatory stress. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, 33(3), 227–234.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, B. A., Schupp, C. W., Levine, S., & Mendoza, S. (2009). Comparing cortisol, stress and sensory sensitivity in children with autism. Autism Research, 2, 32–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corbett, B. A., Schupp, C. W., Simon, D., Ryan, N., & Mendoza, S. (2010). Elevated cortisol during play is associated with age and social engagement in children with autism. Molecular autism, 1(1), 13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzmaurice, G., Laird, N., & Ware, J. (2004). Applied longitudinal analysis. London: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geurts, H. M., Corbett, B., & Solomon, M. (2009). The paradox of cognitive flexibility in autism. Trends in cognitive sciences, 13(2), 74–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ginsburg, K. R. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy child development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182–191.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gunnar, M. R., Wewerka, S., Frenn, K., Long, J. D., & Griggs, C. (2009). Developmental changes in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal activity over the transition to adolescence: Normative changes and associations with puberty. Development and Psychopathology, 21(1), 69–85.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gutstein, S. E., & Whitney, T. (2002). Asperger syndrome and the development of social competence. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilties, 17(3), 161–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanrahan, K., McCarthy, A. M., Kleiber, C., Lutgendorf, S., & Tsalikian, E. (2006). Strategies for salivary cortisol collection and analysis in research with children. Applied Nursing Research, 19(2), 95–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hennessy, J. W., & Levine, S. (1979). Stress, arousal, and the pituitary-adrenal system: A psychoendocrine hypothesis. In: J. M. Sprague & A. N. Epstein (Eds.), Progress in Psychobiology and Physiological Psychology (8th ed., pp. 133–178). New York: Academic Press.

  • Herman, J. P., & Cullinan, W. E. (1997). Neurocircuitry of stress: Central control of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Trends in Neurosciences, 20(2), 78–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Honey, E., Leekam, S., Turner, M., & McConachie, H. (2007). Repetitive behaviour and play in typically developing children and children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 1107–1115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey, N., & Symes, W. (2011). Peer interaction patterns among adolescents with autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) in mainstream school settings. Autism, 15(4), 397–419.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, L. M., Gispen-de Wied, C. C., van der Gaag, R. J., & van Engeland, H. (2003). Differentiation between autism and multiple complex developmental disorder in response to psychosocial stress. Neuropsychopharmacology, 28(3), 582–590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jansen, L. M., Gispen-de Wied, C. C., Wiegant, V. M., Westenberg, H. G., Lahuis, B. E., & van Engeland, H. (2006). Autonomic and neuroendocrine responses to a psychosocial stressor in adults with autistic spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(7), 891–899.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Knott, F., Dunlop, A. W., & Mackay, T. (2006). Living with ASD: How do children and their parents assess their difficulties with social interaction and understanding? Autism, 10(6), 609–617.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krasny, L., Williams, B. J., Provencal, S., & Ozonoff, S. (2003). Social skills interventions for the autism spectrum: Essential ingredients and a model curriculum. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 12(1), 107–122.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lanni, K. E., Schupp, C. W., Simon, D., & Corbett, B. A. (2012). Verbal ability, social stress, and anxiety in children with autistic disorder. Autism, 16(2), 123–138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lawless, J. F. (1987). Negative binomial and mixed poisson regression. The Canadian Journal of Statistics, 15(3), 209–225.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, R. G., & Yoder, P. (2012). Play and communication in children with autism spectrum disorder: A framework for early intervention. Journal of Early Intervention, 34(2), 82–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loftin, R. L., Odom, S. L., & Lantz, J. F. (2008). Social interaction and repetitive motor behaviors. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(6), 1124–1135.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lopata, C., Volker, M. A., Putnam, S. K., Thomeer, M. L., & Nida, R. E. (2008). Effect of social familiarity on salivary cortisol and self-reports of social anxiety and stress in children with high functioning autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(10), 1866–1877.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Risi, S., Lambrecht, L., Cook, E. H., Jr, Leventhal, B. L., DiLavore, P. C., et al. (2000). The autism diagnostic observation schedule-generic: A standard measure of social and communication deficits associated with the spectrum of autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(3), 205–223.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P., & Risi, S. (1999). Autism diagnostic observation schedule-WPS. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, D., Mason, W. A., & Mendoza, S. P. (1990). Beyond the ethogram: Transactional analysis of behavior in primate social interchanges. American Journal of Primatology, 20, 209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyons, D., Mendoza, S., & Mason, W. (1992). Sexual segregation in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus): A transactional analysis of adult social dynamics. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 106(4), 323–330.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marinovic-Curin, J., Marinovic-Terzic, I., Bujas-Petkovic, Z., Zekan, L., Skrabic, V., Dogas, Z., et al. (2008). Slower cortisol response during ACTH stimulation test in autistic children. European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 17(1), 39–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, W., Long, D., & Mendoza, S. (1993). Temperment and mother–infant conflict in macaques: A transactional analysis. In W. M. S. Mendoza (Ed.), Primate social conflict (pp. 205–227). Albany, NY: SUNY Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, S. P., & Mason, W. (1989). Behavioral and endocrine consequences of heterosexual pair formation in squirrel monkeys. Physiology & Behavior, 46(4), 597–603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noldus. (2008). The Observer XT (Vol. 10.5). Wageningen: Noldus Information Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pellegrini, A. D., & Smith, P. K. (1998). Physical activity play: The nature and function of a neglected aspect of playing. Child Development, 69(3), 577–598.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petersen, A. C., Crockett, L., Richards, M., & Boxer, A. (1988). A self-report measure of pubertal status: Reliability, validity and initial norms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 17(2), 117–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pinheiro, J., Bates, D., DebRoy, S., Sarkar, D., & R Development Core Team. (2012). nlme: Linear and nonlinear mixed effects models. R package version 3.1-105.

  • R Core Team. (2012). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna, Austria: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. http://www.R-project.org/.

  • Richdale, A. L., & Prior, M. R. (1992). Urinary cortisol circadian rhythm in a group of high-functioning children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 22(3), 433–447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). The Social Communication Questionnaire. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spratt, E. G., Nicholas, J. S., Brady, K. T., Carpenter, L. A., Hatcher, C. R., Meekins, K. A., et al. (2012). Enhanced cortisol response to stress in children in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(1), 75–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stroud, L. R., Foster, E., Papandonatos, G. D., Handwerger, K., Granger, D. A., Kivlighan, K. T., et al. (2009). Stress response and the adolescent transition: Performance versus peer rejection stressors. Development and Psychopathology, 21(1), 47–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tordjman, S., Anderson, G. M., McBride, P. A., Hertzig, M. E., Snow, M. E., Hall, L. M., et al. (1997). Plasma beta-endorphin, adrenocorticotropin hormone, and cortisol in autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(6), 705–715.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, E. F., Walder, D. J., & Reynolds, F. (2001). Developmental changes in cortisol secretion in normal and at-risk youth. Development and Psychopathology, 13(3), 721–732.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (1999). Wechsler abbreviated scale of intelligence. San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, S. W., Albano, A. M., Johnson, C. R., Kasari, C., Ollendick, T., Klin, A., et al. (2010). Development of a cognitive-behavioral intervention program to treat anxiety and social deficits in teens with high-functioning autism. Clinical Child Family Psychology Review, 13(1), 77–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J. J., Drahota, A., Sze, K., Har, K., Chiu, A., & Langer, D. A. (2009). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorders: A randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50(3), 224–234.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yuill, N., Strieth, S., Roake, C., Aspden, R., & Todd, B. (2007). Brief report: Designing a playground for children with autistic spectrum disorders–effects on playful peer interactions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(6), 1192–1196.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by National Institute of Health R01 MH085717 awarded to Blythe Corbett. Portions of these data were completed as part of Clayton Schupp’s dissertation. We are grateful to the children and families who continue to support our research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Fremont, CA, USA

    Clayton W. Schupp

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University, PMB 40, 230 Appleton Place, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA

    David Simon & Blythe A. Corbett

Authors
  1. Clayton W. Schupp
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. David Simon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Blythe A. Corbett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Blythe A. Corbett.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schupp, C.W., Simon, D. & Corbett, B.A. Cortisol Responsivity Differences in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders During Free and Cooperative Play. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 2405–2417 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1790-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1790-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation