title: Maternal cortisol levels and behavior problems in adolescents and adults with ASD.
abstract: Using daily diary methods, mothers of adolescents and adults with ASD (n = 86) were contrasted with a nationally representative comparison group of mothers of similarly-aged unaffected children (n = 171) with respect to the diurnal rhythm of cortisol. Mothers of adolescents and adults with ASD were found to have significantly lower levels of cortisol throughout the day. Within the ASD sample, the son or daughter's history of behavior problems interacted with daily behavior problems to predict the morning rise of the mother's cortisol. A history of elevated behavior problems moderated the effect of behavior problems the day before on maternal cortisol level. Implications for interventions for both the mother and the individual with ASD are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave., Madison, WI 53705, USA. mseltzer@waisman.wisc.edu
authors.forename: Marsha Mailick
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Seltzer
authors.forename: Jan S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Greenberg
authors.forename: Jinkuk
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Leann E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coe
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Stawski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone