TY - JOUR
T1 - Childcare as a stabilizing influence on HPA axis functioning
T2 - a re-evaluation of maternal occupational patterns and familial relations
AU - Chryssanthopoulou, C. C.
AU - Turner-Cobb, J. M.
AU - Lucas, A.
AU - Jessop, D.
N1 - ID number: ISI:000233152000005
PY - 2005
Y1 - 2005
N2 - The influence of family relations, maternal occupational characteristics, and childcare utilization on preschool children's cortisol production were investigated in 56 mother-child dyads. Family characteristics and maternal employment, childcare and child temperament were reported by mothers. Morning and evening levels of children's salivary cortisol were obtained. Children in highly expressive or reserved families exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to children in moderately expressive families. Elevated levels of cortisol were detected in children of mothers reporting low levels of job role quality or high levels of emotional exhaustion. Frequent childcare use was found to protect children against the physiological effects of low maternal job role quality and emotional exhaustion. Findings underscore the pervasive role of the family as set within an external support system and highlight the potential physiological impact of these interacting contexts for children. Further research is needed to fully understand current findings and to develop appropriate psycho-physiological interventions. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
AB - The influence of family relations, maternal occupational characteristics, and childcare utilization on preschool children's cortisol production were investigated in 56 mother-child dyads. Family characteristics and maternal employment, childcare and child temperament were reported by mothers. Morning and evening levels of children's salivary cortisol were obtained. Children in highly expressive or reserved families exhibited higher cortisol levels compared to children in moderately expressive families. Elevated levels of cortisol were detected in children of mothers reporting low levels of job role quality or high levels of emotional exhaustion. Frequent childcare use was found to protect children against the physiological effects of low maternal job role quality and emotional exhaustion. Findings underscore the pervasive role of the family as set within an external support system and highlight the potential physiological impact of these interacting contexts for children. Further research is needed to fully understand current findings and to develop appropriate psycho-physiological interventions. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dev.20100
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/30544455077
U2 - 10.1002/dev.20100
DO - 10.1002/dev.20100
M3 - Article
SN - 0012-1630
VL - 47
SP - 354
EP - 368
JO - Developmental Psychobiology
JF - Developmental Psychobiology
IS - 4
ER -