Preschool Beginners' Physiological Stress Responses and Behavior Adjustments in High-Poverty Communities: Case of Boarding Preschools

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 4
  In Poster Session: Division E Poster Session: Contemporary Perspectives in Human Development (San Diego)

Abstract

In western China, some preschoolers start boarding as young as 3-year-old and stay at preschools for 4 or 5 consecutive days weekly. The current study examined the impact of boarding on preschoolers’ behavioral adjustments and stress responses reflected by cortisol and saliva alpha-amylase (sAA) during the transition to preschool, both in terms of the average stress and the changing trajectory over time. Saliva samples of 61 preschoolers (boarders = 31, non-boarders = 30) were collected over a 12-week period upon entry of preschools. Primary caregivers reported demographics, behavior problems, and school refusal. Boarders experience a larger morning-to-afternoon cortisol rise than non-boarders. Boarding moderated the change of daily sAA level over time. Boarder also exhibited more school refusal behaviors.

Authors

• Nan Xiao, The Ohio State University

• Xiao ZHANG, University of Hong Kong