Philip A. Fisher|Mike Stoolmiller
Intervention effects on foster parent stress: Associations with child cortisol levels
Oregon Social Learning Center
abstract foster children exhibit high rates atypical neuroendocrine functioning compared children general population particular alterations daytime diurnal activity hypothalamicpituitaryadrenal hpa axis observed foster children often characterized blunted salivary cortisol levels ie low morning levels remain low throughout day emerging evidence therapeutic interventions foster children affect pattern hpa axis activity specific intervention components responsible change fully explicated within randomized trial evaluate therapeutic intervention foster preschoolers n 57 intervention condition n 60 comparison condition n 60 community comparison condition present study examined whether diurnal cortisol activity associated caregiver selfreported stress response child problem behavior results showed immediate reductions caregiver stress sustained 12 months postbaseline intervention condition contrast caregivers regular foster care condition showed higher rates stress across time increased stress sensitivity child problem behaviors addition among caregivers regular foster care higher selfreported stress associated lower morning cortisol levels blunted diurnal cortisol activity results provide evidence interventions simultaneously impact caregiver stress buffer children negative impacts caregiver stress hpa axis regulation