Parenting and Cortisol in Infancy Interactively Predict Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Behaviors in Childhood

Abstract

This study examines observed maternal sensitivity, harsh-intrusion, and mental-state talk in infancy as predictors of conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors in middle childhood, as well as the extent to which infants' resting cortisol and cortisol reactivity moderate these associations. Using data from the Family Life Project (n = 1,292), results indicate that maternal sensitivity at 6 months predicts fewer CP at first grade, but only for infants who demonstrate high levels of cortisol reactivity. Maternal harsh intrusion predicts fewer empathic-prosocial behaviors, a component of CU behaviors, but only for infants who demonstrate high resting cortisol. Findings are discussed in the context of diathesis-stress and differential susceptibility models.

Figure 1. Sensitivity X Cortisol Reactivity

Regions of significance and simple slope estimates for the interaction between maternal sensitivity and children’s cortisol reactivity in the prediction of conduct problems. The shaded area represents the point at which maternal sensitivity predicts lower levels of CP for children demonstrating average to high levels of cortisol reactivity.

Figure 2. Harsh-Intrusion X Baseline Cortisol

Regions of significance and simple slope estimates for the interaction between maternal harsh-intrusion and children’s baseline cortisol in the prediction of empathic-prosocial behaviors. The shaded area represents the point at which maternal harsh-intrusion predicts lower levels of empathic-prosocial behaviors for children demonstrating high levels of baseline cortisol.