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Summary: Compliance with awakening salivary sampling is important for precise measurement of the diurnal cortisol profile. During childhood and adolescence, developmental factors influence sampling upon awakening (awake0) due to school routine, sleep/wake patterns, and age related cortisol changes. In the present study, children and adolescents’ sampling compliance of awakening cortisol was evaluated using accelerometry. Children and adolescents (N =201; 45.3% female; 8–18 years; M age =12.68 years, SD =2.03) participating in the Healthy Heart Project collected saliva samples, wore a tri-axle accelerometer, and completed demographic questionnaires. Intra-class correlations derived to examine awake0 sampling compliance indicated children and adolescents were highly compliant (ICC =.98). In children, a delay in awake0 sampling was associated with a steeper diurnal slope (β =−.23, p =.037) and greater awake0 cortisol (β =.24, p =.024); this was not observed in adolescents. In summary, children and adolescents are compliant with awakening salivary sampling. Sampling delay, particularly in children, and time of awakening influenced measures of the diurnal cortisol profile. These findings inform future studies assessing the diurnal cortisol profile in children and adolescents. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Elevated blood pressure is associated with diminished pain sensitivity. While this finding is well established in adults, it is less clear when the relation between blood pressure and pain sensitivity emerges across the life course. Evidence suggests this phenomenon may exist during childhood. Children ( N = 309; 56% boys) aged 10-15 years and their parents participated. Blood pressure readings were taken during a resting baseline. Maximum pain intensity was rated using a visual analogue scale (rated 0-10) in response to a finger prick pain induction. Parent-measured resting blood pressure was inversely associated with boys' pain ratings only. Cross-sectionally, lower pain ratings were related to higher SBP, univariately. Longitudinally, pain ratings predicted higher DBP, even after controlling for covariates. Determining when and how the relation between blood pressure and pain sensitivity emerges may elucidate the pathophysiology of hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]