Salivary Cortisol and Depression Risk: Relations with Child Temperament, Maternal History of Depression, Parenting, and Life Stress
Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Dysregulation of the HPA system has been consistently associated with the affective disorders.The current study aims to test the hypothesis that low positive emotionality (PE), a possible temperamental precursor to depression, is associated with HPA axis functioning in children prior to the onset of a depressive disorder.This study also aims to examine the unique and joint effects of some of the complex factors related to children's early HPA axis functioning and depression risk, including maternal history of depression, parenting and life stress, alongside early temperament.These factors were examined in relation to children's salivary cortisol levels in response to a laboratory stressor and to children's home basal cortisol levels.One hundred and sixty-six preschool-aged children and their biological parents were recruited from a larger study examining temperamental risk for mood disorders: 166 children completed all 4 salivary cortisol samples during the lab visit; 94 children provided a home morning salivary cortisol sample; and 93 children provided an evening salivary cortisol sample.Child temperament and parenting were
Author: Lea R. Dougherty
Language: English
Subfield: Behavioral Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2281574413