Evidence of altered cortisol levels across child maltreatment, intimate partner abuse, and peer victimization

The negative effects of poor interpersonal relationships are widespread and include a host of mental and physical health problems. Research also suggests alterations in biological and neurological functioning occur as a result of the stress of victimization. These negative associations and alterations are documented across several types of abuse. We review the literature examining the negative effects of victimization by considering research on three different modalities of abuse: child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, and peer victimization. Our review focuses on synthesizing the literature on biological alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning associated with victimization. We focus on the HPA axis given its role in stress responses. © 2012 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.