Social relationships stress kids out, affect their mental health

Scientists believe that the quality and size of the social relationships nurtured in childhood may have important physiological consequences for physical and mental health for youth.

A research team from the University of Missouri has determined that children and adolescents physically react to their social networks and the stress those networks may cause.

Scientists believe that the quality and size of the social relationships nurtured in childhood may have important physiological consequences for physical and mental health for youth.

A lot of research has shown the significance of social relationships in influencing adult human behaviour and health, but children’s perception of their social networks correlates with stress and how it may influence development is still untapped.

Read: Parental pressure putting undue stress on children

Researcher Mark V. Flinn said that cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase are secreted in response to outside pressure or tension. A part of the autonomic nervous system, release of cortisol in the system is quick, unconscious and can be measured in saliva; therefore, measuring cortisol is a good indicator of stress in the body.

He added that the typical physiological response to stress is the release of hormones like cortisol into the system.

Flinn said that using the data they have collected they found out children who were stressed about the size and density of their perceived social networks had elevated anticipatory cortisol levels and responded by secreting more alpha-amylase.

The study appears in the journal Social Neuroscience.