Young children's full-day patterns of cortisol production on child care days.
OBJECTIVE
To examine toddlers' full-day patterns of cortisol production on child care days and non-child care days, with a particular focus on whether the mid-afternoon elevations at child care persist into the evening or decrease to typical levels observed on non-child care days.


METHODS
A prospective observational study.


METHODS
Four child care centers in a suburban, mid-Atlantic area.


METHODS
Forty-two children aged 16 to 24 months attending full-day child care.


METHODS
Full-day child care.


METHODS
Salivary cortisol samples obtained at wake-up, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime for children on 2 child care days and 2 non-child care days.


RESULTS
Children showed different patterns of cortisol production on child care days compared with non-child care days (chi(2)(4) = 18.21, P = .001). Child care days were characterized by an afternoon increase in cortisol levels (unlike non-child care days) and decreases to bedtime values that were comparable with levels on non-child care days.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the effects of child care on children's cortisol production are time limited across the day.
Sumner
Melissa Manni
MM
Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, 108 Wolf Hall, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
Bernard
Kristin
K
Dozier
Mary
M
D002654:Child Care; D002656:Child Day Care Centers; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
D006854:Hydrocortisone