Effects of Maltreatment and Early Intervention on Diurnal Cortisol Slope Across the Start of School: A Pilot Study

• NCJ Number: 241385
• Journal: Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2012 Pages: 666-670
• Author(s): Alice M. Graham; Melissa Yockelson; Hyoun K. Kim; Jacqueline Bruce; Katherine C. Pears; Philip A. Fisher
• Date Published: September 2012
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH078105; MH059780
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined changes in diurnal cortisol in response to the start of school among three groups of children.

Abstract

Findings from this study on changes in stress levels for children include the following: for the comparison group of children (low-income, nonmaltreated, and living with their biological parents), the rate of change in diurnal cortisol rhythm during the day was significantly different from the week before and the first day of school, and again between the first and fifth days of school; for foster children involved with the Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Preschoolers (MTFC-P), the rate of change in diurnal cortisol rhythm during the day was steeper on the first day of school compared to the week before school; and for foster children who received regular foster care, the rate of change of diurnal cortisol rhythm was significantly different only between the week before school and the fifth day of school, with a significantly steeper slope occurring on the fifth day of school. This study examined changes in diurnal cortisol in response to the start of school among three groups of children: foster children who received regular foster care; foster children involved with the MTFC-P intervention program; and a comparison group of children, nonmaltreated and living with the biological parents. The purpose of the study was to determine whether an early intervention program aimed at reducing maltreatment among children could affect the children's response to stress. Data for the study were obtained from a subsample of children recruited from a larger, longitudinal study examining the effectiveness of MTFC-P. Preliminary analysis of the data indicates that early intervention to reduce the prevalence of child maltreatment may have a significant effect on children's response to stressful situations. Study limitations are discussed. Table, figure, and references