title: Parent-child adrenocortical concordance in early childhood: The moderating role of parental depression and child temperament.
abstract: This study examined biological concordance between parent and child morning cortisol and whether parent and child-level risk factors for depression moderated this association. Participants included 136 parents and their preschool-aged children. Parents and children obtained salivary cortisol samples at waking, and 30 and 45min post-waking across two days to assess the cortisol awakening response. Parental lifetime depression was assessed using a clinical interview and child temperamental negative emotionality (NE) and positive emotionality (PE) were assessed using an observational laboratory-based assessment. Results indicated significant parent-child concordance between both average cortisol levels and cortisol fluctuations across waking. Greater concordance was observed for dyads with parents with a lifetime history of depression and with children high in NE and PE. These parent- and child-level moderators were associated with different indices of concordance. Findings highlight the need to examine the role of parent and child risk factors for depression on parent-child adrenocortical concordance.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland College Park, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Merwin
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland College Park, USA.
authors.forename: Victoria C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland College Park, USA.
authors.forename: Marissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kushner
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland College Park, USA.
authors.forename: Edward P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Lemay
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland College Park, USA. Electronic address: ldougher@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Lea R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Dougherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D013694:Temperament / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: CAR; Child temperament; Concordance; Cortisol; Cortisol awakening response; Interaction; Morning cortisol; Parental depression