Poverty, Caregiving, and HPA-Axis Activity in Early Childhood

Overview

Journal Dev Rev

Date 2020 May 8

PMID 32377027

Citations 1

Authors

Steven J Holochwost

Nissa Towe-Goodman

Peter D Rehder

Guan Wang

W Roger Mills-Koonce

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The association between poverty and the activity of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis in early childhood is well established. Both ecological and transactional theories suggest that one way in which poverty may influence children's HPA-axis activity is through its effects on parents' behaviors, and over the past three decades a substantial literature has accumulated indicating that variations in these behaviors are associated with individual differences in young children's HPA-axis activity. More recent research suggests that non-parental caregiving behaviors are associated with HPA-axis activity in early childhood as well. Here we systematically review the literature on the association between both parental and non-parental caregiving behaviors in the context of poverty and the activity of the HPA-axis in early childhood. We conclude by noting commonalities across these two literatures and their implications for future research.

Citing Articles

Examining the Role of Socioeconomic Status and Maternal Sensitivity in Predicting Functional Brain Network Connectivity in 5-Month-Old Infants.

Chajes J, Stern J, Kelsey C, Grossmann T Front Neurosci. 2022; 16:892482.

PMID: 35757535 PMC: 9226752. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.892482.

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