Stress Reactivity Study in Adolescents

The goal of this study was to examine the glucocorticoid and behavioral responses to a psychological stressor in obese African-American and non-Latino white adolescents. Participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a control condition on separate days. Immediately following each condition, participants were provided with snacks to eat at their leisure. Reactivity was assessed via salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase area under the curve (AUC), and adolescents were categorized as high or low reactors.