ERIC Number: EJ1455743
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-9289
EISSN: EISSN-1556-6935
Toddlers' Cortisol Levels in Childcare and at Home
Kathrin Nystad; May Britt Drugli; Stian Lydersen; Håvard Horndalen Tveit; Ratib Lekhal; Elisabet Solheim Buøen
Early Education and Development, v36 n1 p62-79 2025
Research Findings: Measuring toddlers' cortisol levels both in childcare and at home and their relation to child- and childcare-related factors may help to identify stress-inducing childcare practices and children who are more vulnerable to stress in childcare. Accordingly, toddlers' (n = 320, 51.2% female, mean age = 26.8 months) cortisol levels in childcare and at home and their relation to childcare quality and child- and family-related factors were investigated using linear mixed model analyses. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon cortisol levels increased in childcare and decreased at home. Younger children had higher overall cortisol levels. Children attending groups with a higher caregiver-child ratio had slightly higher cortisol levels in childcare and slightly lower cortisol levels at home. Toddlers attending disorganized groups were considerably more stressed in childcare. Practice or Policy: The present study underlines the importance of sufficient caregiver availability and stable routines in toddler classrooms.
Descriptors: Toddlers, Family Environment, Child Care Centers, Physiology, Biochemistry, Anxiety, Stress Variables, Child Care, Family Influence, Context Effect, Child Development, Mental Health, Foreign Countries, Child Caregivers, Caregiver Attitudes, Caregiver Child Relationship, Child Behavior, Well Being, Participant Characteristics, Behavior Patterns
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Norway
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A