Parent-Child Adrenocortical Concordance in Early Childhood: The Moderating Role of Parental Depression and Child Temperament

Publication date: Available online 29 January 2017
Source:Biological Psychology
Author(s): Stephanie M. Merwin, Victoria C. Smith, Marissa Kushner, Edward P. Lemay, Lea R. Dougherty
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 45minutes 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 concordanc



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