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Positive parenting during childhood moderates the impact of recent negative events on cortisol activity in parentally bereaved youth

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Abstract

Rationale

Early parental loss has been associated with neuroendocrine dysregulation in youth; however, the form of cortisol dysregulation varies widely. Identifying risk and protective factors that influence physiological regulation has important implications for understanding the development of mental health problems in parentally bereaved youth.

Objectives

The current study investigated the prospective effects of positive parenting on the relation between recent negative life events and cortisol activity in adolescents/young adults several years after bereavement.

Methods

Positive parenting was assessed an average of 18.5 months following parental death. Six years later, adolescents/young adults (N = 55) reported on exposure to recent negative life events, and salivary cortisol was assessed before and after a conflict discussion task with their caregiver. The interaction between positive parenting and exposure to recent negative events was used to predict total cortisol output and response to the task.

Results

Multilevel modeling and the probing of the interaction effect demonstrated that total cortisol output increased with greater exposure to recent negative events among those with lower levels of past positive parenting. These relations were significant over and above current internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

Conclusions

The current results highlight the need to consider the interactive influence of proximal and distal factors on neuroendocrine functioning for youth exposed to early parental loss.

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Notes

  1. Reliability coefficients for positive parenting scales were computed using the baseline sample (as reported in previous studies: Sandler et al. 2003; Kwok et al. 2005; Wolchik et al. 2006).

  2. Use of psychotropic medication has also been shown to influence HPA axis functioning. Only two subjects reported current use of psychiatric medications. Analyses were run with and without these two subjects and results were the same.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85287-1104, USA

    Melissa J. Hagan, Danielle S. Roubinov, Jenna Gress-Smith, Linda J. Luecken, Irwin N. Sandler & Sharlene Wolchik

  2. Program for Prevention Research, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 876005, Tempe, AZ, 85287-6005, USA

    Melissa J. Hagan

Authors
  1. Melissa J. Hagan
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  2. Danielle S. Roubinov
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  3. Jenna Gress-Smith
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  4. Linda J. Luecken
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  5. Irwin N. Sandler
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  6. Sharlene Wolchik
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Correspondence to Melissa J. Hagan.

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Hagan, M.J., Roubinov, D.S., Gress-Smith, J. et al. Positive parenting during childhood moderates the impact of recent negative events on cortisol activity in parentally bereaved youth. Psychopharmacology 214, 231–238 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1889-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-010-1889-5

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