Research

IDHP Research Summaries

Guide to Navigating this Research Archive

Here you will find research articles published by IDHP researchers that are related to our primary scientific foci: the interconnected mental health of children and their caregivers, the intergenerational impact of stressful experiences on mental and physical health, and interventions and other buffers that support family wellness. 

 

In the right sidebar, you can search this archive by research topic, as well as by research study (you can read about each study on the Current Projects page). Each archive entry has a simple summary, the full scientific abstract, and a link to the full article. Most of the articles in this research archive are available open access (i.e., you can access it without a subscription). If you are trying to access an article and aren't able to see the full version, please email us at [email protected], and we would be happy to assist. 

 

 

August 12, 2021
Biomarkers
Child mental & behavioral health
Childhood adversity
CTRP-Health Study
Intervention effects

Longitudinal hair cortisol in low-income young children: A useful biomarker of behavioral symptom change?

This study looked at how cortisol levels, measured through hair samples, are related to behavior problems in young children from low-income families. The researchers studied two groups of children: those who had experienced trauma and participated in therapy, and a community group of children from families experiencing high stress. They found that increases in cortisol over time were associated with greater improvements in child behavior problems, and that changes in hair cortisol levels over time may be more informative than looking at hair cortisol levels at one point in time.