Early deprivation and home basal cortisol levels: a study of internationally adopted children

Darlene A Kertes; Megan R Gunnar; Nicole J Madsen; Jeffrey D Long

doi:10.1017/S0954579408000230

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Early deprivation and home basal cortisol levels: a study of internationally adopted children

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Early deprivation and home basal cortisol levels: a study of internationally adopted children

Darlene A Kertes, Megan R Gunnar, Nicole J Madsen and Jeffrey D Long

Development and psychopathology, Vol.20(2), pp.473-491

2008

DOI: 10.1017/S0954579408000230

PMCID: PMC5863229

PMID: 18423090

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/5863229View

Open Access

Abstract

Animal studies reveal that early deprivation impairs regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, potentially increasing vulnerability to stressors throughout life. To examine early deprivation effects on basal HPA axis activity in humans, basal cortisol levels were examined in 164 internationally adopted children who had experienced varying degrees of preadoption deprivation. Duration of institutional care, age at adoption, and parent ratings of preadoption neglect indexed a latent factor of Deprived Care. Adoption measures of height and weight standardized to World Health Organisation norms indexed a latent factor of Growth Delay that was viewed as another reflection of deprivation. Cortisol samples were collected 3.3-11.6 years postadoption (Md = 7.3 years) at home on 3 days approximately 30 min after wakeup and before bedtime. Both early a.m. levels and the decrease in cortisol across the day were examined. A structural equation model revealed that preadoption Deprived Care predicted Growth Delay at adoption and Growth Delay predicted higher morning cortisol levels and a larger diurnal cortisol decrease.

Adoption - psychology

Arousal - physiology

Body Height - physiology

Body Weight - physiology

Child

Child Abuse - psychology

Child Behavior Disorders - blood

Child Behavior Disorders - psychology

Child, Preschool

Circadian Rhythm - physiology

Cross-Cultural Comparison

Developmental Disabilities - blood

Developmental Disabilities - psychology

Emigrants and Immigrants - psychology

Female

Foster Home Care - psychology

Humans

Hydrocortisone - blood

Internal-External Control

International Agencies

Likelihood Functions

Longitudinal Studies

Male

Models, Psychological

Orphanages

Personality Assessment

Personality Development

Psychosocial Deprivation

Risk Factors

Social Environment

Statistics as Topic

Details

Title: Subtitle: Early deprivation and home basal cortisol levels: a study of internationally adopted children
Creators: Darlene A Kertes - University of Minnesota
Megan R Gunnar - University of Minnesota
Nicole J Madsen - University of Minnesota
Jeffrey D Long - University of Minnesota
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Development and psychopathology, Vol.20(2), pp.473-491
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579408000230
PMID: 18423090
PMCID: PMC5863229
NLM abbreviation: Dev Psychopathol
ISSN: 0954-5794
eISSN: 1469-2198
Grant note: K05 MH066208 / NIMH NIH HHS MH59848-03S1 / NIMH NIH HHS MH66208 / NIMH NIH HHS T32 MH015755 / NIMH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 2008
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Biostatistics
Record Identifier: 9984280831402771

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