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Circadian rhythms of arousal in parent-child interaction: a 24-hour co-regulation process

Chase J Boyer1, Leah C Hibel1

  • 1Department of Human Ecology, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, United States.

Child Development Perspectives
|April 6, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Responsive caregiving shapes infant circadian rhythms and stress regulation. Early sleep-wake cycles and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function develop through caregiver-infant interactions, impacting long-term outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Caregivers are crucial for infant arousal regulation and synchronizing biological rhythms.
  • Early childhood development involves establishing sleep-wake cycles and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine how caregiving behaviors influence the development of infant circadian rhythms.
  • To explore the integration of sleep-wake cycles and HPA axis function in early childhood.
  • To propose a framework for understanding caregiver-infant interactions in establishing 24-hour regulatory systems.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizes a framework grounded in dynamic systems theory and transactional models.
  • Highlights bidirectional interactions between caregivers and infants.
  • Examines cascading effects of sleep and stress regulation disruptions.

Main Results:

  • Responsive caregiving supports adaptive outcomes in sleep and stress regulation.
  • Inconsistent caregiving may lead to dysregulation of circadian rhythms and HPA axis function.
  • Caregiver interactions are key to establishing cohesive 24-hour regulatory systems.

Conclusions:

  • Caregiving behaviors significantly shape the development of infant circadian rhythms.
  • Early sleep and stress regulation are influenced by the quality of caregiver-infant interactions.
  • Responsive caregiving is vital for healthy development and adaptation in infants.

Keywords:
caregivingcircadian rhythmsdynamic systems theorysleep–wake cyclestransactional models

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