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Cortisol reactivity in young infants.

Jarno Jansen1, Roseriet Beijers, Marianne Riksen-Walraven

  • 1Department of Developmental Psychology, Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, PO Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands. J.Jansen@psych.ru.nl

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Infant cortisol reactivity to stress is primarily observed in response to physical, not psychological, stressors. This cortisol response to physical stressors diminishes with infant age, particularly for those older than six months.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Endocrinology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Cortisol reactivity to acute stressors is a key indicator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function in infants.
  • Understanding infant cortisol responses is crucial for assessing early development and stress regulation.
  • Limited research exists on how infant age influences cortisol reactivity to various stressors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review empirical studies on infant cortisol reactivity to acute stressors.
  • To specifically examine the influence of infant age on the development of cortisol reactivity.
  • To explore the role of caregivers in modulating infant stress responses.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of empirical studies.
  • Analysis of cortisol levels in infants following exposure to acute psychological and physical stressors.
  • Examination of effect sizes of cortisol reactivity in relation to infant age.

Main Results:

  • Many psychological stressors do not elicit a significant cortisol reaction in infants.
  • Physical stressors typically provoke a moderate increase in post-stressor cortisol levels.
  • Cortisol reactivity to physical stressors shows a decreasing effect size with increasing infant age.
  • Knowledge regarding cortisol reactivity in infants older than 6 months remains limited.

Conclusions:

  • Infant age plays a significant role in the development of cortisol reactivity to acute stressors.
  • The HPA-axis response differs between psychological and physical stressors in infants.
  • Caregiver presence may buffer infant cortisol responses to stressors.
  • Further research is recommended to expand knowledge on infant cortisol reactivity across different age groups and stress types.