Parenting and Cortisol in Infancy Interactively Predict Conduct Problems and Callous–Unemotional Behaviors in Childhood

This study examines observed maternal sensitivity, harsh‐intrusion, and mental‐state talk in infancy as predictors of conduct problems (CP) and callous–unemotional (CU) behaviors in middle childhood, as well as the extent to which infants’ resting cortisol and cortisol reactivity moderate these asso...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child development 2019-01, Vol.90 (1), p.279-297
Main Authors: Wagner, Nicholas J., Mills‐Koonce, W. Roger, Willoughby, Michael T., Cox, Martha J., Vernon‐Feagans, Lynne, Blair, Clancy, Burchinal, Margaret R., Crnic, Keith, Crouter, Ann, Garrett‐Peters, Patricia, Greenberg, Mark T., Frank, Jennifer L., Stifter, Cynthia, Werner, Emily, Lanza, Stephanie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Child
Childhood
Children
Conduct disorder
Conduct Disorder - etiology
Conduct Disorder - metabolism
Conduct Disorder - physiopathology
Cortisol
Families & family life
Female
Hormones
Humans
Hydrocortisone - metabolism
Infancy
Infant
Infants
Intrusion
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Maternal Behavior - psychology
Mental states
Parenting - psychology
Parents & parenting
Prosocial behavior
Reactivity
Resting
Susceptibility
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Summary:This study examines observed maternal sensitivity, harsh‐intrusion, and mental‐state talk in infancy as predictors of conduct problems (CP) and callous–unemotional (CU) behaviors in middle childhood, as well as the extent to which infants’ resting cortisol and cortisol reactivity moderate these associations. Using data from the Family Life Project (n = 1,292), results indicate that maternal sensitivity at 6 months predicts fewer CP at first grade, but only for infants who demonstrate high levels of cortisol reactivity. Maternal harsh intrusion predicts fewer empathic–prosocial behaviors, a component of CU behaviors, but only for infants who demonstrate high resting cortisol. Findings are discussed in the context of diathesis–stress and differential susceptibility models.
ISSN:0009-3920
1467-8624
DOI:10.1111/cdev.12900