title: Longitudinal mediators of a randomized prevention program effect on cortisol for youth from parentally bereaved families.
abstract: We recently reported that a randomized controlled trial of a family-focused intervention for parentally bereaved youth predicted higher cortisol output 6 years later relative to a control group of bereaved youth (Luecken et al., Psychoneuroendocrinology 35, 785-789, 2010). The current study evaluated longitudinal mediators of the intervention effect on cortisol 6 years later. Parentally bereaved children (N = 139; mean age, 11.4; SD = 2.4; age range = 8-16 years; male; 61% Caucasian, 17% Hispanic, 7% African American, and 15% other ethnicities) were randomly assigned to the 12-week preventive intervention (n = 78) or a self-study control (n = 61) condition. Six years later (mean age, 17.5; SD, 2.4), cortisol was sampled as youth participated in a parent-child conflict interaction task. Using four waves of data across the 6 years, longitudinal mediators of the program impact on cortisol were evaluated. Program-induced increases in positive parenting, decreases in child exposure to negative life events, and lower externalizing symptoms significantly mediated the intervention effect on cortisol 6 years later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA. Linda.Luecken@asu.edu.
authors.forename: Linda J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Luecken
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hagan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Irwin N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Sandler
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Jenn-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tein
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Tim S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287, USA.
authors.forename: Sharlene A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Wolchik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone