Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 26, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Parental emotional support and social buffering in previously institutionalized and typically developing children and
Nicole Perry1, Anna Johnson2, Camelia Hostinar3
1Human Development and Family Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Abstract:
The current study tested the hypothesis that variation in parental emotional support explains differences in cortisol reactivity among 159 youth, including both previously institutionalized (PI; N = 78) and non-adopted (NA; N = 81) children (ages 9-10) and adolescents (ages 15-16). Youth participated in a Modified Trier Social Stress Test after a period of preparation with either their parent or a supportive stranger. Saliva samples were collected to derive a measure of cortisol reactivity. Our findings revealed that parents buffered the cortisol stress response for PI children and adolescents only if they were high on emotional support. Our results also suggest that simply preparing with a parent might buffer the stress response for NA children; for NA adolescents, however, only emotionally supportive parents significantly buffered their adolescents' stress.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Socioemotional Development during Infancy
Primary Temperament Types
Relationship with Other Adult Family Members and Siblings
Relationship with Parents: Attachment
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
Attachment Styles

