Measuring Stress in Young Children Using Hair Cortisol: The State of the Science

Bates, Randi A.; Salsberry, Pamela J.; Ford, J. P.

doi:10.1177/1099800417711583

Cited by 77 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 82 publications

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“…Firstly, HCC is an indirect indicator of stress, and it assesses all exposure to cortisol. As has been stated, HCC has been found to be elevated in children from low SES families but also in children who have perceived poorer temperament or behavior (i.e., are more fearful or have socioemotional issues) [8]. Thus, research is still needed to clarify the role of the developing HPA axis in the level of HCC as well as the role of elevated HCC in response to potential stress exposures in young children.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The strengths of the current study include a relatively large sample of children, objective assessment of long-term stress, and validated assessment of temperament. Although assessing HCC in young children is somewhat new, it has been recognized as a valuable tool in research [8,27]. The use of daily ST diaries with open questions instead of ready-given response categories in assessing ST was chosen to increase the representativeness of ST.…”

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Association of screen time with long-term stress and temperament in preschoolers: results from the DAGIS study

et al. 2020

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Screen time is increasing rapidly in young children. The aim of this study was to examine associations of long-term stress and temperament with screen time in Finnish preschool children and the moderating role of socioeconomic status. Cross-sectional DAGIS data were utilized. Long-term stress was assessed using hair cortisol concentration, indicating values of the past 2 months. Temperament was reported by the parents using the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire (the Very Short Form), and three broad temperament dimensions were constructed: surgency, negative affectivity, and effortful control. Screen time was reported by the parents over 7 days. The highest education level in the household was used as an indicator of socioeconomic status. In total, 779 children (mean age, 4.7 ± 0.9 years, 52% boys) were included in the study. Of the temperament dimensions, a higher effortful control was associated with less screen time (B = − 6.70, p = 0.002). There was no evidence for an association between hair cortisol concentration and screen time nor a moderating role of socioeconomic status in the associations (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings indicate that preschool children with a higher score in effortful control had less screen time. Because effortful control reflects general self-regulatory abilities, promoting these skills may be effective in reducing screen time in young children. What is Known: • Screen time has increased rapidly during the last decades, and higher screen time has been linked with numerous adverse health consequences in children. • There are no previous studies investigating associations of long-term stress and temperament with screen time in young children. What is New: • Of the temperament dimensions, effortful control was associated with higher screen time in preschool children, but there was no association found between long-term stress and screen time. • Since effortful control reflects general self-regulatory abilities, promoting these skills may be effective in reducing screen time in young children.

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Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Strengths and Limitationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Association of screen time with long-term stress and temperament in preschoolers: results from the DAGIS study

et al. 2020

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“…Although proxy‐reported data can be collected for young children, discrepancies exist between self‐reported and proxy‐reported data because of parents or legal guardians expressing their own perceptions of stress instead of their children's perceptions when the latter method is used 12 . Because of these limitations of self‐reported or proxy‐reported stress, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) has emerged as a promising objective biomarker of chronic stress in children, especially among those who are young 13 . Cortisol is released during acute stress due to activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body mass index, waist circumference and body fat are positively correlated with hair cortisol in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

2020

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Summary The current body of research lacks a meta‐analysis of the relationship between hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and anthropometry in children. Therefore, this systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted to examine this relationship and explore possible moderators between HCC and body mass index (BMI/BMI z‐score). Eleven databases were searched: CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, PsycEXTRA, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Social Sciences Full Text, Sociological Abstracts and Web of Sciences. Random‐effects models and exploratory moderator analyses with mixed‐effects models were performed using the Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis software. The meta‐analysis showed small positive correlations between HCC and BMI (r = 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.14, n = 18, p = .009), BMI z‐score (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.16, n = 12, p = .003), waist circumference (r = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.17, n = 10, p = .001) and body fat including fat mass index (r = 0.06, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.11, n = 3, p = .005). The relationship between HCC and BMI/BMI z‐score was significantly moderated by children's sex. Results from this meta‐analysis provide initial objective support for a small positive relationship between HCC and anthropometric factors.

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“…No study to date has examined relationships between HCC and more specific indices of childhood disadvantage, such as income poverty (i.e., family income below the poverty line) and social exclusion (i.e., experience of disadvantage in multiple domains, including economic and social), and particularly in a low‐income population. A recent review of HCC as a measure of stress in children identified these issues (and others) as important next steps for research in this area (Bates, Salsberry, & Ford, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlates of hair cortisol concentrations in disadvantaged young children

et al. 2018

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Children from highly disadvantaged families tend to experience worse health, educational, and job outcomes than less disadvantaged peers. However, the mechanisms underlying these relationships remain to be explicated. In particular, few studies have investigated the relationships between the psychosocial influences that children are exposed to early in life and longer term cortisol output. This study aims to contribute to the literature by exploring how disadvantaged young children's experiences of family adversity, and parenting and family functioning, are related to their long‐term cortisol levels. A sample of 60 children (26 males, mean = 4.25 years, SD = 1.68) and their mothers (mean = 34.18 years, SD = 7.11) from a low‐income population took part in a single assessment. Mothers completed questionnaires on the family environment, parenting practices, and child behaviour. Children provided a hair sample for cortisol assay and anthropometric measures. A parsimonious multivariate regression model (including potential predictors identified by a selection algorithm) was used to investigate the correlates of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in children. Higher levels of social exclusion, being male, and younger age were each associated with higher HCC. Maternal nurturing and emotion coaching were associated with lower HCC. Findings suggest that chronic stress may underlie relationships between adversity and its long‐term effects and that HCC offers a promising method for examining chronic stress in children and evaluating interventions by which it can be ameliorated.

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Measuring Stress in Young Children Using Hair Cortisol: The State of the Science

Cited by 77 publications

References 82 publications

Association of screen time with long-term stress and temperament in preschoolers: results from the DAGIS study

Association of screen time with long-term stress and temperament in preschoolers: results from the DAGIS study

Body mass index, waist circumference and body fat are positively correlated with hair cortisol in children: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Correlates of hair cortisol concentrations in disadvantaged young children

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