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Updated: Apr 16, 2026

Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory
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Eye Tracking, Cortisol, and a Sleep vs. Wake Consolidation Delay: Combining Methods to Uncover an Interactive Effect of Sleep and Cortisol on Memory

Published on: June 18, 2014

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Cortisol secretion and change in sleep problems in early childhood: Moderation by maternal overcontrol

Elizabeth J Kiel1, Alexandra C Hummel1, Aaron M Luebbe1

  • 1Miami University, Department of Psychology, 100 Psychology Building, 90 N. Patterson Ave., Oxford, OH 45056, United States.

Biological Psychology
|March 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Cortisol patterns in toddlers, especially low variability and high morning levels, predict increasing sleep problems by age 3, particularly with critical parenting. This highlights the interplay between biology and environment in early childhood sleep issues.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Health
  • Neuroendocrinology

Background:

  • Childhood sleep problems are common and linked to adverse psychological outcomes.
  • The predictive role of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity on sleep problems in early childhood, considering parenting context, is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how cortisol secretion patterns in toddlers predict changes in sleep problems.
  • To examine the moderating role of maternal overprotection and critical control in the relationship between cortisol and sleep problems.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study involving 51 mothers and their toddlers (18-20 months old).
  • Assessed morning levels, diurnal change, and nocturnal change in toddlers' cortisol secretion.
  • Measured maternal overprotection and critical control, and toddler sleep problems over time.

Main Results:

  • A cortisol pattern of low variability and high morning levels predicted increasing sleep problems from age 2 to 3.
  • This prediction was significant in the context of high maternal critical control.
  • Shared variance among cortisol indices and environmental factors are important predictors.

Conclusions:

  • Cortisol secretion patterns interact with parenting environments to influence childhood sleep problems.
  • Assessing combined cortisol indices and environmental factors offers valuable insights into early childhood sleep disturbances.
  • Early identification of at-risk children may benefit from considering both biological and environmental factors.

Keywords:
HPA axisParental careSleep/wake

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