TY  - JOUR
T1  - YOung children's full-day patterns of cortisol production on child care days
AU  - Sumner M, Bernard K, Dozier M
Y1  - 2010/06/01
N1  - 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.85
JO  - Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
SP  - 567
EP  - 571
VL  - 164
IS  - 6
N2  - Objective 
    To examine toddlers' full-day patterns of cortisol production on child care days and non–child care days, with a particular focus on whether the mid-afternoon elevations at child care persist into the evening or decrease to typical levels observed on non–child care days.Design 
    A prospective observational study.Setting 
    Four child care centers in a suburban, mid-Atlantic area.Participants 
    Forty-two children aged 16 to 24 months attending full-day child care.Main Exposure 
    Full-day child care.Outcome Measure 
    Salivary cortisol samples obtained at wake-up, mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and bedtime for children on 2 child care days and 2 non–child care days.Results 
    Children showed different patterns of cortisol production on child care days compared with non–child care days (χ24 = 18.21, P = .001). Child care days were characterized by an afternoon increase in cortisol levels (unlike non–child care days) and decreases to bedtime values that were comparable with levels on non–child care days.Conclusion 
    Results suggest that the effects of child care on children's cortisol production are time limited across the day.
SN  - 1072-4710
M3  - doi: 10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.85
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpediatrics.2010.85
ER  -