Foster parent responsiveness and young children's diurnal cortisol production.

ABSTRACT: Foster children are at risk for dysregulated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, conferring risk for negative health outcomes. Responsive parenting may support young children's HPA axis regulation; however, few studies have examined the association between responsive parenting and cortisol production among children in foster care. In a sample of 97 foster parent-child dyads, we examined whether variation in foster parent responsiveness was linked to children's waking and bedtime levels of cortisol. Children's saliva samples were collected at wake-up and bedtime for three consecutive days. Foster parent responsiveness, as indicated by parent sensitivity, intrusiveness, and positive regard, was assessed during video-recorded semistructured play interactions between foster

SUBMITTER: Szenczy AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8236069 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature