Children's diurnal cortisol activity during the first year of school

ABSTRACT

The present study examined 4- to 5-year-old British children's diurnal cortisol activity during their first year of school. The children's cortisol was measured before enrollment (baseline), upon enrollment, and both 3 and 6 months after enrollment. On each day, cortisol was sampled four times, providing information about the diurnal amount of cortisol secreted (AUC_G). Mixed-effect models were constructed to examine the way children's cortisol fluctuated over the course of the school year. Physiological activity was greater 3 months after enrollment, suggesting that some children reacted more to the challenge of school later than they did initially. Implications and suggestions for transitional practices and future research are discussed.

Notes

¹The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is the qualification students receive upon completing 11 years of secondary education.

²The first sample of the day was taken pre breakfast but not necessarily close to the time of awakening, so levels are not comparable with those reported in studies in which awakening samples were obtained.