Parent-child adrenocortical concordance in early childhood: The moderating role of parental depression and child temperament

•We examined parent-child adrenocortical concordance of morning cortisol.•Parent and child CAR demonstrated significant concordance.•Parent depression history and child temperament moderated parent-child concordance.•Concordance of morning cortisol may serve as a mechanism underlying child outcomes....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2017-03, Vol.124, p.100-110
Main Authors: Merwin, Stephanie M., Smith, Victoria C., Kushner, Marissa, Lemay, Edward P., Dougherty, Lea R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
CAR
Child of Impaired Parents - psychology
Child temperament
Child, Preschool
Concordance
Cortisol
Cortisol awakening response
Depression - physiopathology
Depression - psychology
Emotions - physiology
Female
Humans
Hydrocortisone - analysis
Interaction
Male
Morning cortisol
Parental depression
Parents - psychology
Risk Factors
Saliva - chemistry
Temperament - physiology
Wakefulness - physiology
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Summary:•We examined parent-child adrenocortical concordance of morning cortisol.•Parent and child CAR demonstrated significant concordance.•Parent depression history and child temperament moderated parent-child concordance.•Concordance of morning cortisol may serve as a mechanism underlying child outcomes. This study examined biological concordance between parent and child morning cortisol and whether parent and child-level risk factors for depression moderated this association. Participants included 136 parents and their preschool-aged children. Parents and children obtained salivary cortisol samples at waking, and 30 and 45min post-waking across two days to assess the cortisol awakening response. Parental lifetime depression was assessed using a clinical interview and child temperamental negative emotionality (NE) and positive emotionality (PE) were assessed using an observational laboratory-based assessment. Results indicated significant parent-child concordance between both average cortisol levels and cortisol fluctuations across waking. Greater concordance was observed for dyads with parents with a lifetime history of depression and with children high in NE and PE. These parent- and child-level moderators were associated with different indices of concordance. Findings highlight the need to examine the role of parent and child risk factors for depression on parent-child adrenocortical concordance.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2017.01.013