Stress Trajectories and Anhedonia in Adolescence Research Study

The Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS) is a 14-item measure used to assess anhedonia. Each item has four answer responses: "strongly agree" (1 point), "agree" (2 points), "disagree" (3 points), and "strongly disagree" (4 points). The sum of these responses is taken to find the total score, which ranges from 0-56 with higher scores indicating more overall anhedonia.

During the MIST, research participants complete mental arithmetic with the intermittent reception of neutral and negative evaluative feedback. The percent signal change of the fronto-limbic region of the brain will be analyzed during the MIST task. Higher percent signal change in these regions would indicate higher levels of activation when stressed. Percent signal change ranges between 1% to 5%.

The Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C) -- a social stressor involving story telling in front of two neutral judges, preparation time and a cognitive stressor involving mental arithmetic is used to elicit physiological stress responses. The combination of stressors offers high levels of social-evaluative threat. Cortisol is collected through a saliva sample of passive drool a total of 5 times throughout the visit at 15-minute intervals. The higher the cortisol is found to be, the higher the stress response to the task.

During the MIST, research participants complete mental arithmetic with the intermittent reception of neutral and negative evaluative feedback. Cortisol is collected through a saliva sample collected via cotton swab a total of 6 times throughout the visit at 15-minute intervals. The higher the cortisol is found to be, the higher the stress response to the task.

The Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C) -- a social stressor involving story telling in front of two neutral judges, preparation time and a cognitive stressor involving mental arithmetic is used to elicit physiological stress responses. The combination of stressors offers high levels of social-evaluative threat. Throughout the task, heart rate is measured to determine baseline resting state and HRV. HRV is the difference in the milliseconds between each heartbeat. The higher the HRV, the more the nervous system is activated during the task. The level of HRV indicates the participant's nervous system response to stress.

The Anticipatory and Consummatory Interpersonal Pleasure Scale (ACIPS) assesses the ability to experience social pleasure. It contains 17-items scored on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from "very false for me" (1) to "very true for me" (6). The sum of these responses is taken to find the total score, which ranges from 17-102 with higher scores indicating lower capacity to experience or anticipate social pleasure.

The Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS) is an 18-item measure used to assess anhedonia. It is scored on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from "very false for me" (1) to "very true for me" (6). The sum of these responses is taken to find the total score, which ranges from 18-108 with higher scores indicating more overall anhedonia.