Article2002

Salivary Cortisol as a Predictor of Socioemotional Adjustment during Kindergarten: A Prospective Study

Nancy A. Smider · Marilyn J. Essex · Ned H. Kalin · Kristin A. Buss · M. H. Klein · Richard J. Davidson +1 more

175 citations0/0 files storedChild Development

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Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development Early Childhood Education and Development Stress Responses and Cortisol

Abstract

This study, based on a sample of 172 children, examined the relation between average afternoon salivary cortisol levels measured at home at age 4.5 years and socioemotional adjustment a year and a half later, as reported by mothers, fathers, and teachers. Cortisol levels were hypothesized to be positively associated with withdrawal-type behaviors (e.g., internalizing, social wariness) and inversely related to approach-type behaviors, both negative and positive (e.g., externalizing, school engagement). Higher cortisol levels at age 4.5 predicted more internalizing behavior and social wariness as reported by teachers and mothers, although child gender moderated the relation between cortisol and mother report measures. An inverse relation was found between boys' cortisol levels and father report of externalizing behavior. A marginal inverse relation was found between child cortisol levels and teacher report of school engagement. Behavior assessed concurrently with cortisol collection did not account for the prospective relations observed,suggesting that cortisol adds uniquely to an understanding of behavioral development.

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References

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Cited by

2015The Origins and Development of Psychopathology in Females and Males 2004Physiological and neuropsychological correlates of approach/withdrawal tendencies in preschool: Further examination of the behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system scales for young children 2010Amygdala volume correlates positively with fearfulness in normal healthy girls 2008Children’s Cortisol and the Quality of Teacher–Child Relationships in Child Care

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