Catecholamine response of children in a naturally occurring stressor situation.

The present study examined the response of children to a stressor condition. Urine samples were collected from 38 children between ages 10 and 12 preceding a class presentation and again one week later, when no unusual event was occurring. Cognitive tasks and a state anxiety inventory were administered on both occasions. Personality and stressor situation inventories (hypothesized antecedent factors) were completed. Bidirectional changes in catecholamine levels were demonstrated (adrenalin: 55% of the children showed an increase, 29% a decrease; noradrenalin: 47% increase, 40% decrease; 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenethylene glycol: 40% increase, 42% decrease). Distinct differences in gender distribution and cognitive performance were demonstrated for the increase and decrease subgroups. It was suggested that both increases and decreases in catecholamine levels represent responses to the stressor situation, with an increase representing an adaptive response and a decrease representing a less adaptive response.