Differences in hormonal responses to preoperative emotional stress between preschool and school children.

Abstract

The behavior of children under emotional stress differs according to whether they are of preschool or school age. To examine the effect of age on hormonal responses to preoperative emotional stress, we measured the concentrations of catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) and cortisol in 56 healthy boys before surgery. Among preschool boys (3-5 years old), those showing anxious behavior showed significantly higher cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline concentrations in the blood circulation than those not showing such behavior (P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001 and P < 0.005, respectively). However, among the schoolboys (6-11 years old), anxiety was associated only with the cortisol concentration (P < 0.01). Hormonal responses to preoperative emotional stress in preschool boys differ from those in schoolboys.