Salivary Cortisol Mediates Effects of Poverty and Parenting on Executive Functions in Early Childhood

Clancy Blair (), Douglas Granger, Michael Willoughby, Roger Mills-Koonce, Martha Cox, Mark T. Greenberg, Katie Kivlighan, Christine Fortunato and Investigators Flp
Additional contact information
Clancy Blair: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Douglas Granger: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University
Michael Willoughby: Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center
Roger Mills-Koonce: Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Martha Cox: Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Mark T. Greenberg: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University
Katie Kivlighan: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University
Christine Fortunato: Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University
Investigators Flp: Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Pennsylvania State University, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Center, Center for Developmental Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

No 2011-019, Working Papers from Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group

Abstract: In a predominantly low-income population-based longitudinal sample of 1,292 children followed from birth, higher level of salivary cortisol assessed at ages 7, 15, and 24 months was uniquely associated with lower executive function ability and to a lesser extent IQ at age 3 years. Measures of positive and negative aspects of parenting and household risk were also uniquely related to both executive functions and IQ. The effect of positive parenting on executive functions was partially mediated through cortisol. Typical or resting level of cortisol was increased in African American relative to White participants. In combination with positive and negative parenting and household risk, cortisol mediated effects of African American ethnicity, income-to-need, and maternal education on child cognitive ability.

Date: 2011
Note: ECI
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Forthcoming in Child Development

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