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Cortisol levels in relation to maternal interaction and child internalizing behavior in preterm and full-term

Susanne Brummelte1, Ruth E Grunau, Anat Zaidman-Zait

  • 1Developmental Neurosciences & Child Health, Child & Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, L408-4480 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6H3V4.

Developmental Psychobiology
|February 8, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children born extremely preterm show altered cortisol stress responses and heightened sensitivity to maternal interactions. This suggests potential long-term hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis programming differences impacting development.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Preterm birth impacts neurodevelopment.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis regulates stress response.
  • Early life experiences influence HPA axis programming.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Compare cortisol levels in preterm vs. full-term infants.
  • Investigate maternal interactive behavior's impact on child cortisol.
  • Examine the link between child internalizing behaviors and cortisol.

Main Methods:

  • Cortisol levels measured in response to cognitive tasks at 18 months corrected age.
  • Participants: Extremely low gestational age (ELGA), very low gestational age (VGLA), and full-term infants.
  • Maternal interactive behaviors and child internalizing behaviors assessed.

Main Results:

  • ELGA infants exhibited higher baseline cortisol and altered cortisol response patterns.
  • Higher cortisol in ELGA infants correlated with less optimal maternal interaction.
  • Cortisol change patterns linked to internalizing behaviors in ELGA and VGLA infants.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm birth may lead to altered HPA axis programming.
  • Preterm infants show increased sensitivity to maternal interactive behaviors.
  • Environmental factors significantly influence stress system development in preterm children.

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