Mitigating HPA axis dysregulation associated with placement changes in foster care
- PMID:20888698
- PMCID: PMC3610565
- DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.08.007
Mitigating HPA axis dysregulation associated with placement changes in foster care
Abstract
Maltreated foster children often exhibit alterations in diurnal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity that are characterized by lower cortisol levels upon waking and smaller declines in morning-to-evening cortisol levels. Previous research has shown that this dysregulated pattern is associated with high caregiver stress levels over the course of foster care placements. In contrast, therapeutic interventions that emphasize consistent and responsive caregiving have been associated with more regulated cortisol rhythms. In this paper, two related issues were explored: whether placement changes (i.e., moving between foster homes or from a foster home to a permanent placement) were associated with more blunted daily cortisol rhythms and whether a caregiver-based intervention exerted a protective effect in this context. Because the intervention program has components specifically designed to prepare foster children for placement changes and to maintain consistent parenting techniques despite them, a prevention effect on HPA axis dysregulation during placement changes was hypothesized. The results of linear mixed modeling analyses showed that placement changes predicted dysregulation in cortisol rhythms in the regular foster care group but not in the intervention foster care group. These findings are discussed in terms of implications for child welfare policy and practice.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Figures
Similar articles
- Salivary cortisol: a possible biomarker in evaluating stress and effects of interventions in young foster children?van Andel HW, Jansen LM, Grietens H, Knorth EJ, van der Gaag RJ.van Andel HW, et al.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014 Jan;23(1):3-12. doi: 10.1007/s00787-013-0439-1. Epub 2013 Jun 15.Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2014.PMID:23771272Review.
- Intervention effects on foster parent stress: associations with child cortisol levels.Fisher PA, Stoolmiller M.Fisher PA, et al.Dev Psychopathol. 2008 Summer;20(3):1003-21. doi: 10.1017/S0954579408000473.Dev Psychopathol. 2008.PMID:18606041Free PMC article.Clinical Trial.
- Effects of a therapeutic intervention for foster preschoolers on diurnal cortisol activity.Fisher PA, Stoolmiller M, Gunnar MR, Burraston BO.Fisher PA, et al.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007 Sep-Nov;32(8-10):892-905. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.06.008. Epub 2007 Jul 25.Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007.PMID:17656028Free PMC article.Clinical Trial.
- Morning cortisol Levels in preschool-aged foster children: differential effects of maltreatment type.Bruce J, Fisher PA, Pears KC, Levine S.Bruce J, et al.Dev Psychobiol. 2009 Jan;51(1):14-23. doi: 10.1002/dev.20333.Dev Psychobiol. 2009.PMID:18720365Free PMC article.
- Effects of therapeutic interventions for foster children on behavioral problems, caregiver attachment, and stress regulatory neural systems.Fisher PA, Gunnar MR, Dozier M, Bruce J, Pears KC.Fisher PA, et al.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1094:215-25. doi: 10.1196/annals.1376.023.Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006.PMID:17347353Review.
Cited by
- Heterogeneity in the dynamic arousal and modulation of fear in young foster children.Panlilio CC, Harring JR, Harden BJ, Morrison CI, Duncan AD.Panlilio CC, et al.Child Youth Serv Rev. 2020 Sep;116:105199. doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105199. Epub 2020 Jul 2.Child Youth Serv Rev. 2020.PMID:32831446Free PMC article.
- Rethinking evidence-based practice and two-generation programs to create the future of early childhood policy.Shonkoff JP, Fisher PA.Shonkoff JP, et al.Dev Psychopathol. 2013 Nov;25(4 Pt 2):1635-53. doi: 10.1017/S0954579413000813.Dev Psychopathol. 2013.PMID:24342860Free PMC article.Review.
- Perceived Stigmatization, Resilience, and Diurnal Cortisol Rhythm Among Children of Parents Living With HIV.Chi P, Slatcher RB, Li X, Zhao J, Zhao G, Ren X, Zhu J, Stanton B.Chi P, et al.Psychol Sci. 2015 Jun;26(6):843-52. doi: 10.1177/0956797615572904. Epub 2015 Apr 17.Psychol Sci. 2015.PMID:25888685Free PMC article.Clinical Trial.
- Early adversity, child neglect, and stress neurobiology: From observations of impact to empirical evaluations of mechanisms.Blaisdell KN, Imhof AM, Fisher PA.Blaisdell KN, et al.Int J Dev Neurosci. 2019 Nov;78:139-146. doi: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.06.008. Epub 2019 Jun 26.Int J Dev Neurosci. 2019.PMID:31254597Free PMC article.Review.
- Effects of a prevention program for divorced families on youth cortisol reactivity 15 years later.Luecken LJ, Hagan MJ, Mahrer NE, Wolchik SA, Sandler IN, Tein JY.Luecken LJ, et al.Psychol Health. 2015;30(7):751-69. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2014.983924. Epub 2014 Dec 3.Psychol Health. 2015.PMID:25367835Free PMC article.Clinical Trial.
References
- Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Van IJzendoorn MH, Mesman J, Alink LRA, Juffer F. Effects of an attachment-based intervention on daily cortisol moderated by dopamine receptor D4: a randomized control trial on 1- to 3-year-olds screened for externalizing behavior. Dev. Psychopathol. 2008;20:805–820. - PubMed
- Chamberlain P. Treating Chronic Juvenile Offenders: Advances Made Through the Oregon Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care Model. American Psychological Association; Washington, DC: 2003.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Substances
Related information
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical