Cortisol Reactivity to Social Stress as a Mediator of Early Adversity on Risk and Adaptive Outcomes

• Autores: Elisabeth Conradt, Beau Abar, B. M. Lester, Linda L. LaGasse, Seetha Shankaran, Henrietta Bada, Charles R. Bauer, Toni M. Whitaker, Jane A. Hammond
• Localización: Child development, ISSN 0009-3920, Vol. 85, Nº. 6, 2014, págs. 2279-2298
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Children chronically exposed to stress early in life are at increased risk for maladaptive outcomes, though the physiological mechanisms driving these effects are unknown. Cortisol reactivity was tested as a mediator of the relation between prenatal substance exposure and/or early adversity on adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Data were drawn from a prospective longitudinal study of prenatal substance exposure (N = 860). Cortisol reactivity was assessed at age 11. Among African Americans, prenatal substance exposure exerted an indirect effect through early adversity and cortisol reactivity to predict externalizing behavior, delinquency, and a positive student–teacher relationship at age 11. Decreased cortisol reactivity was related to maladaptive outcomes, and increased cortisol reactivity predicted better executive functioning and a more positive student–teacher relationship.