Factors associated with cortisol levels and health in 5–6‐year‐old children. Issue 5 (1st August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cardas, J.; Azpiroz, A.; Pascual‐Sagastizabal, E.; Pérez‐Yarza, E.G.; Etxebarria, A.E.; Azurmendi, A.; Sanchez‐Martín, J.R.
• Is Part Of: American journal of human biology. Volume 25:Issue 5(2013:Sep./Oct.)
• Page Start: 606
• Page End: 616
• Publication Date: 2013-08-01
• Subjects: Human biology -- Periodicals; Physical anthropology -- Periodicals; Biologie humaine -- Périodiques; Anthropologie physique -- Périodiques; 612
• DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.22419
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-0533

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="ajhb22419-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>This study assesses the relationships between social context (family and inter‐peer context), stress, and illness in 5–6‐year‐old children.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22419-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>To this end, data were collected on spontaneous social interpeer behavior; families provided data on stress, anxiety, and parental acceptance‐rejection; and the children's pediatricians provided data relative to their health. Data on stress‐related hormones (cortisol) were collected using saliva samples.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22419-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>The results revealed that none of the variables examined were significantly related to illness development in the subjects in the sample group. Cortisol levels, however, were positively associated with a record of chronic or congenital illnesses, the manifestation of behaviors related to the search for leadership status in the group and the presence of stressful events in the family environment.</p> </sec> <sec id="ajhb22419-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Despite finding no relationship between children's level of adrenocortical activity and the contracting or contingent development of diseases, we did find that chronic/congenital diseases may constitute a source of early stress in childhood. Certain conditions of uncertainty in the social context (family and interpeer) also seem to constitute different sources of stress. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 25:606‐616, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</p> </sec> </abstract>