Understanding the characteristic of vulnerable families, such as those followed by Child Protective Services (CPS), is of utmost relevance. The parents often face significant difficulties that preclude them from having the internal resources needed to be sensitive, responsive, and engage in positive interactions with their children. Among many individual, familial and psychological characteristics, one deserving particular attention is parents’ and children’s biological stress, found to be adequately identified by hair cortisol concentration (HCC). Previous research identified possible associations between environmental exposures and child HCC. However, studies on the associations between parenting and children’s development outcomes and parents’ and children’s HPA axis function are scarce.
The purpose of the current study is to characterize patterns of HCC in a sample of parents and 6-to-12-years-old children followed by CPS. Participants are 80 parent-child dyads. All parents and children provided hair samples to evaluate HCC. Parents completed self-report measures on parenting behaviors, parental stress and competence, and proxy-report measures on children’s behavior and social competence. Children completed self-report measures on well-being and perceived stress.
Data collection has been completed, and data are currently being processed. Data analyses will evaluate the interdependence of HCC within each dyad. The association between HCC, parenting and child development outcomes will also be addressed. Further analyses will be performed to identify if patterns/classes of data emerge, characterizing sample subgroups.
The current study results are expected to contribute to the body of knowledge on child development and family well-being among vulnerable families followed by CPS.