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Effects of institutional rearing on children's diurnal cortisol production
Daria Chernego1, Christiana Martin2, Kristin Bernard3
1St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation.
Insights
Children in institutional care exhibit altered cortisol patterns, with institutionally-reared children showing a blunted diurnal cortisol slope and higher bedtime levels compared to family-reared children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Developmental Science
Background:
- Institutionalized children often display developmental deficits.
- Research on cortisol diurnal rhythms in children currently in institutions is limited.
- Cortisol regulation is crucial for healthy child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate diurnal cortisol patterns in institutionally-reared versus family-reared children.
- To examine the impact of institutional care on neuroendocrine regulation.
- To compare wake-up and bedtime cortisol levels between groups.
Main Methods:
- Salivary cortisol was measured upon waking and at bedtime in 73 children in Russia.
- Participants included 52 institutionally-reared and 21 family-reared children.
- Data were collected at two time points to assess changes.
Main Results:
- Institutionally-reared children demonstrated a blunted wake-up to bedtime cortisol slope.
- Higher bedtime cortisol levels were observed in institutionally-reared children.
- These differences persisted across both measurement time points.
Conclusions:
- Institutional care is associated with disrupted cortisol diurnal rhythms.
- Early life stress in institutional settings negatively impacts neuroendocrine development.
- Findings underscore the detrimental effects of institutional environments on children's health.
Abstract:
Young children living in institutional settings often show a range of deficits in social, physical, and cognitive functioning. Whereas the diurnal production of cortisol has been examined among post-institutionalized children in a number of investigations, studies of children continuing to live in institutions are limited. In this study, we assessed wake-up and bedtime cortisol among 73 children living in Russia, with 52 institutionally-reared (n = 31 at time 2), and 21 family-reared (n = 18 at time 2). Institutionally-reared children showed a blunter wake-up to bedtime slope than family-reared children at both time 1 and time 2, with significantly higher cortisol levels at bedtime. These findings highlight the deleterious effects of institutional care on children's developing neuroendocrine regulation.