Effects of institutional rearing on children's diurnal cortisol production

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Aug:106:161-164. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.04.010. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Abstract

Young children living in institutional settings often show a range of deficits in social, physical, and cognitive functioning. Whereas the diurnal production of cortisol has been examined among post-institutionalized children in a number of investigations, studies of children continuing to live in institutions are limited. In this study, we assessed wake-up and bedtime cortisol among 73 children living in Russia, with 52 institutionally-reared (n = 31 at time 2), and 21 family-reared (n = 18 at time 2). Institutionally-reared children showed a blunter wake-up to bedtime slope than family-reared children at both time 1 and time 2, with significantly higher cortisol levels at bedtime. These findings highlight the deleterious effects of institutional care on children's developing neuroendocrine regulation.

Keywords: Cortisol; Early adversity; Institutional care; Orphanages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoption / psychology
  • Child
  • Child, Institutionalized / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology*
  • Female
  • Foster Home Care / psychology
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / analysis
  • Hydrocortisone / metabolism*
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiology
  • Male
  • Orphanages
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiology
  • Russia
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology

Substances

  • Hydrocortisone