title: Exploring patterns in cortisol synchrony among anxious and nonanxious mother and child dyads: a preliminary study.
abstract: Given that anxiety is highly familial, the current pilot study explored the association between anxiety diagnosis and diurnal cortisol rhythm in mother-child dyads with the hypothesis that a predisposition toward homogenous cortisol profiles may partially explain the familial linkage of anxiety. The role of family environment in stress response was also examined. Participants were 27 mother-child dyads. Results indicated that patterns of cortisol secretion between mother and child are synchronous. Maternal anxiety and aspects of family functioning significantly predicted child awakening cortisol pattern. Further, affective involvement and gender of the child significantly predicted mother-child diurnal cortisol secretion synchrony. These findings provide support for the degree of synchrony in patterns of physiological responsiveness between mother and child, as well as the importance of a child's affective environment in the prediction of a diagnosis of anxiety.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, 317 Life Sciences, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Electronic address: sarah.williams@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cash
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daup
authors.forename: Elena M C
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Geronimi
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sephton
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Woodruff-Borden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone