The role of child adrenocortical functioning in pathways between interparental conflict and child maladjustment.
This study examined the interplay between interparental conflict and child cortisol reactivity to interparental conflict in predicting child maladjustment in a sample of 178 families and their kindergarten children. Consistent with the allostatic load hypothesis (McEwen & Stellar, 1993), results indicated that interparental conflict was indirectly related to child maladjustment through its association with individual differences in child cortisol reactivity. Analyses indicated that the multimethod assessment of interparental conflict was associated with lower levels of child cortisol reactivity to a simulated phone conflict between parents. Diminished cortisol reactivity, in turn, predicted increases in parental reports of child externalizing symptoms over a 2-year period. Associations between interparental conflict, child cortisol reactivity, and child externalizing symptoms remained robust even after demographic factors and other family processes were taken into account.
Davies
Patrick T
PT
Department of Clinical and Social Sciences in Psychology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627, USA. davies@psych.rochester.edu
Sturge-Apple
Melissa L
ML
Cicchetti
Dante
D
Cummings
E Mark
EM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000502:physiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012917:Social Adjustment
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone