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The start of a new school year: Individual differences in salivary cortisol response in relation to child temperament
Author(s) -
Davis Elysia Poggi,
Donzella Bonny,
Krueger William K.,
Gunnar Megan R.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2302(199911)35:3<188::aid-dev3>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - temperament , negative affectivity , psychology , extraversion and introversion , shyness , positive affectivity , evening , developmental psychology , personality , cortisol awakening response , hydrocortisone , clinical psychology , big five personality traits , medicine , anxiety , psychiatry , social psychology , physics , astronomy
Noon and evening salivary cortisol levels were examined in 70 elementary school children during the 1st week of a new school year. Samples were obtained on the 1st and 5th days of school and on weekend days. Delta cortisol scores were created to measure the change in children's levels on initial school days relative to weekend days. Temperament was assessed using Rothbart's Child Behavior Questionnaire, a parent report instrument. The three dimensions of surgency or extroversion, negative affectivity, and effortful control were examined. Positive correlations were obtained with Day 1 delta cortisol for negative affectivity and Day 5 delta cortisol for surgency. Contrary to the expectation that internalizing aspects of temperament (shyness, fearfulness) would be associated with larger increases in cortisol to the novelty and challenge of a new school year, these data indicate that larger increases in cortisol were observed in more extroverted children. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 35: 188–196, 1999