Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers
08:25

Collecting Saliva and Measuring Salivary Cortisol and Alpha-amylase in Frail Community Residing Older Adults via Family Caregivers

Published on: December 18, 2013

Child care setting affects salivary cortisol and antibody secretion in young children

Sarah Enos Watamura1, Christopher L Coe, Mark L Laudenslager

  • 1Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. swatamura@psy.du.edu

Psychoneuroendocrinology
|March 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Elevated cortisol in children attending child care may lower antibody levels and increase illness. Higher cortisol on weekends also correlated with more reported illnesses in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Stress Physiology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Afternoon cortisol elevations are common in children during childcare.
  • The consequences of these cortisol elevations on children's health are not well understood.
  • The interplay between stress (cortisol) and immune function (antibody secretion) in young children requires further investigation, especially across different environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between daily salivary cortisol concentrations and antibody secretion in children.
  • To examine how these relationships differ between home and child care settings.
  • To explore the association between cortisol levels, antibody secretion, and parent-reported illnesses.

Main Methods:

  • Salivary cortisol and antibody (sIgA) levels were measured in 65 children (3-5 years old) at three time points daily (morning, afternoon, evening).
  • Samples were collected over two days at home and two days in child care settings.
  • Parent-reported illnesses were recorded, and children attended high-quality, full-time childcare centers.

Main Results:

  • A rising cortisol profile during childcare predicted lower antibody levels on the subsequent weekend.
  • Higher cortisol levels on weekend days were associated with increased parent-reported illnesses.
  • A declining daily pattern of salivary immunoglobulin A (sIgA) was observed in older preschoolers on child care and weekend days, and in younger preschoolers on weekend days.

Conclusions:

  • Elevated cortisol levels in children during childcare may negatively impact immune function, leading to reduced antibody levels.
  • Increased cortisol is linked to a higher frequency of illnesses in young children.
  • Environmental context, such as childcare, influences the diurnal patterns of both cortisol and antibody secretion in preschoolers.

More Related Videos

Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature05:33

Measuring Biophysical and Psychological Stress Levels Following Visitation to Three Locations with Differing Levels of Nature

Published on: June 19, 2019

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
Stella Chess...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Humoral Immune Responses01:36

Humoral Immune Responses

Overview
Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...