Journal
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
Volume 55, Issue 3, Pages 412-417Publisher
ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2008.12.007
Keywords
Childhood family cortisol stress
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Funding
- NIMH [R03 MH069804-1]
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Negative childhood family environments have been associated with stress-related physical and psychological health consequences across the lifespan. The present study examined the relation between adverse relationships in the family of origin and physiological stress response, as measured by salivary cortisol, in emerging adulthood. Seventy-six university students (age range=18-22) selected from intact married families-of-origin characterized by either negative (n=39) or positive (n=37) relationship quality engaged in a challenging role play task. Results from multilevel models indicated that those from negative families exhibited significantly lower salivary cortisol across the task than those from positive families. This relation did not change in strength or direction after controlling for experiences with abuse or recent anxiety or depressive symptoms. These findings suggest the significance of early family relationships on the long-term activity of the HPA axis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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