The Role of Parenting and Cortisol in Children’s Early Peer Relationships
Year: 2024
Type: other
Abstract: Several studies demonstrate a relation between peer victimization and increased aggression in early childhood (Ostrov, 2010; Perry & Ostrov, 2023; Yeung & Leadbeater, 2007). However, theories like the diathesis stress model, biological sensitivity to context, and the differential susceptibility hypothesis posit that not all individuals will experience negative outcomes in the presence of an environmental stressor (Belsky & Pluess, 2009; Boyce & Ellis, 2005; Ellis et al., 2011). Thus, additional research is needed to identify which children are more likely or less likely to develop patterns of aggressive behavior after experiences of peer victimization. This study will consider the role of HPA axis function (i.e., basal cortisol levels) and the parent-child relationship (i.e., parental warmth) in the relations between peer victimization in the fall of preschool (T1) and aggression in the spring of preschool (T2). We will examine basal cortisol at T1 as a moderator of the association between T1 victimization and T2 aggression, with separate models examining physical victimization/aggression and relational victimization/aggression. Additionally, T1 parental warmth will be explored as a moderator, again with separate models for the two forms of aggression. Finally, three-way interactions between peer victimization, basal cortisol, and parental warmth in predicting later aggression will be investigated. Data collected from cohorts 1-4 of the larger FRIENDS project will be used including teacher report of peer victimization and aggression, parent report of warmth, and morning salivary cortisol samples.
Source: Open Science Framework
Language: English
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7118866412