title: Does socioeconomic status mediate racial differences in the cortisol response in middle childhood?
abstract: Race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status are both associated with stress physiology as indexed by cortisol. The present study tested the extent to which racial/ethnic disparities in cortisol reactivity are explained by socioeconomic status.
  
  
  
  The sample consisted of 296 racially and socioeconomically diverse children ages 8-11 (47% boys). Mothers reported on children's stressors and socioeconomic status; salivary cortisol levels were assessed before and after the Trier Social Stress Test.
  
  
  
  Results demonstrated that racial group differences in cortisol reactivity were partially accounted for by differences in socioeconomic status, but racial group differences in cortisol recovery were not.
  
  
  
  These findings suggest that cumulative effects of stress and disadvantage may result in differences in stress response physiology as early as middle childhood, and that race-specific mechanisms account for additional variance in cortisol reactivity and recovery. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tackett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herzhoff
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Avanté J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Smack
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Kathleen W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Reardon
authors.affiliation: School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University.
authors.forename: Emma K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Adam
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D044469:Racial Groups; D012923:Social Class; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone