title: Parenting stress and salivary cortisol in parents of children with autism spectrum disorder: Longitudinal variations in the context of a service dog's presence in the family.
abstract: A significant portion of parents of children with autism spectrum disorder report high levels of stress related to parenting responsibilities, which have been linked to abnormal cortisol patterns. This study seeks to better understand the parents' adaptation to caregiving demands and use of a service dog, by taking into account longitudinal variations in salivary cortisol and perception of parental stress. Salivary cortisol was collected one day per week for 15 weeks by 98 primary caregivers of children with ASD. Overall, parents perceived high levels of stress at baseline. Mean morning cortisol increase was below expected levels for healthy adults, and perception of stress predicted morning cortisol activity. Hypocorticolism related to chronic stress may be present in parents of children with ASD. Longitudinal analysis revealed that the presence of a service dog in the family had an effect on parenting stress, wakening and morning cortisol levels.
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke, Department of psychoeducation, Canada. Electronic address: stephanie.fecteau@uqo.ca.
authors.forename: Stéphanie-M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fecteau
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boivin
authors.affiliation: Université de Sherbrooke, Department of psychoeducation, Canada.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Trudel
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychiatry, Canada.
authors.forename: Blythe A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.affiliation: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Canada.
authors.forename: Frank E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Harrell
authors.affiliation: The Mira Foundation, Canada.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Viau
authors.affiliation: The Mira Foundation, Canada.
authors.forename: Noël
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Champagne
authors.affiliation: Université Laval, Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Picard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D012463:Saliva; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; parental stress; salivary cortisol; service dog