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. 2011 Nov-Dec;82(6):1970-84.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01643.x. Epub 2011 Oct 25.

Salivary cortisol mediates effects of poverty and parenting on executive functions in early childhood

Clancy Blair  1 , Douglas A Granger, Michael Willoughby, Roger Mills-Koonce, Martha Cox, Mark T Greenberg, Katie T Kivlighan, Christine K Fortunato; FLP Investigators
Affiliations

Salivary cortisol mediates effects of poverty and parenting on executive functions in early childhood

Clancy Blair et al. Child Dev. 2011 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

In a predominantly low-income population-based longitudinal sample of 1,292 children followed from birth, higher level of salivary cortisol assessed at ages 7, 15, and 24 months was uniquely associated with lower executive function ability and to a lesser extent IQ at age 3 years. Measures of positive and negative aspects of parenting and household risk were also uniquely related to both executive functions and IQ. The effect of positive parenting on executive functions was partially mediated through cortisol. Typical or resting level of cortisol was increased in African American relative to White participants. In combination with positive and negative parenting and household risk, cortisol mediated effects of income-to-need, maternal education, and African American ethnicity on child cognitive ability.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hypothesized model relating poverty indicators, household risk, positive and negative parenting, and cortisol to cognitive outcomes at age 3 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Observed model relating poverty indicators, household risk, positive and negative parenting, and cortisol to cognitive outcomes at age 3 years. All paths presented as standardized effects. All paths p < .05 except † p < .10
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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