Indicators of deprivation predict diurnal cortisol regulation during infancy.

Dysregulation of diurnal cortisol rhythms is often seen among children exposed to early adversity and has been associated with a variety of negative physical and mental health outcomes. The present study examined whether two indicators of deprivation, sociodemographic burden and observed parental insensitivity, were associated with child diurnal cortisol rhythms among a diverse community sample of 250 infants ages 5 to 22 months (M = 12.68 months, 47.2% male). The sample was diverse in terms of socioeconomic status as assessed by household income (M = $59,163, SD = $57,775, range = $0−230,000) and infant race/ethnicity (41.6% African American, 19.2% White, 17.2% multiracial, 14.0% Hispanic/Latin, 2.8% Caribbean, 2.8% other, 1.2% American Indian/Alaska Native, and 1.2% Asian). Sociodemographic burden indicators were assessed through questionnaires completed by the parent. Parental sensitivity was assessed through observations of parents’ interactions with their infants during a play interaction task. Cortisol was assayed from infant saliva samples collected at waking and bedtime across 3 days. Structural equation modeling revealed that higher sociodemographic burden, but not parental insensitivity, was associated with blunted diurnal cortisol slopes. Neither sociodemographic burden nor parental insensitivity were associated with the cortisol awakening response. These findings suggest that sociodemographic burden may be an important early predictor of diurnal cortisol slope dysregulation, highlighting the importance of interventions providing support to individuals who experience sociodemographic burden and promoting reduction of these early stressors.