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Salivary cortisol levels and infant temperament shape developmental trajectories in boys at risk for behavioral

Koraly Pérez-Edgar1, Louis A Schmidt, Heather A Henderson

  • 1Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, MS 3F5, Fairfax, VA 22030, United States. kperezed@gmu.edu

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|July 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

High cortisol levels correlate with withdrawal in young boys with difficult infant temperaments. Gender and temperament significantly influence childhood behavioral problems, suggesting unique biobehavioral mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Endocrinology

Background:

  • Behavioral problems in young children manifest in various forms, linked to specific antecedents and markers.
  • Internalizing difficulties are associated with infant temperament and cortisol levels, with gender potentially shaping these biobehavioral mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationships between salivary cortisol and behavioral maladjustment in 4-year-old children.
  • To investigate the moderating roles of gender and infant temperament in these biobehavioral associations.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study using maternal reports of infant temperament (9 months) and concurrent salivary cortisol levels (age 4).
  • Behavioral maladjustment assessed via maternal reports and laboratory observations, categorizing into 'Withdrawal' and 'Acting Out' behaviors.

Main Results:

  • High basal cortisol levels were strongly associated with 'Withdrawal' (internalizing behavior) in male participants.
  • This association was significant only in boys with high negative infant temperament.
  • A main effect of gender indicated greater 'Acting Out' difficulties in boys, but no comparable cortisol interaction was found.

Conclusions:

  • Unique biobehavioral mechanisms appear to shape specific patterns of childhood maladjustment.
  • The interplay between cortisol, temperament, and gender is crucial for understanding internalizing behaviors in young children.

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