title: The psychophysiological and health corollaries of child problem behaviours in caregivers of children with autism and ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The positive relationship between problem behaviours of children with additional complex needs and psychological distress in their caregivers has been widely evidenced. Fewer studies, however, have assessed the relationship between care recipients' problem behaviours and key physiological processes, relevant for the physical health status of their care providers. This study examined the psychological, endocrine and health corollaries of child problem behaviours in caregivers of children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Caregivers (n = 18) completed self-report measures of psychological distress, child problem behaviours and incidences of commonly occurring ailments. To capture important parameters of the basal diurnal cortisol pattern, caregivers collected saliva samples at waking, 30 min post waking, 1200 h and 2200 h on two consecutive weekdays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data revealed a positive relationship between caregivers' perceived levels of stress and problems with child conduct behaviours. In addition, caregivers who reported more problems with child emotional and hyperactivity behaviours displayed atypical cortisol patterns characterised by flatter diurnal cortisol slopes and reduced cortisol awakening response magnitude. Subjective reports of commonly occurring ailments were also greater in caregivers experiencing more problems with child emotional behaviours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings have implications for interventions that aim to improve the psychophysiological well-being of the caregiver by targeting problem behaviours of the care recipient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Stress Research Group, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lovell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Wetherell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: ADHD; autism; caregivers; child problem behaviours; common health problems; cortisol