Attachment Security Buffers the HPA-axis Functioning of Toddlers Living in or Near Poverty

• In Event: 3-130 - The Power of Parents: Caregiver Buffering of the HPA-axis Among Children and Families Experiencing Low-Income

Integrative Statement

Background: In the United States, nearly a quarter of children live in households with incomes in or near the poverty range (Yoshikawa et al., 2012). Exposure to disadvantaged environments is associated with poor physical and emotional development (Aber et al., 1997; Diez Roux & Mair, 2010; Yoshikawa et al., 2012). One of the hypothesized pathways through which poverty is linked with negative physical and mental health outcomes is via activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis. While studies of school-aged children have found some evidence to support this, there is little support for this relationship earlier in development (Hill-Soderlund et al., 2015). Investigation of protective factors, such as positive parent-child relationships and attachment style, may account for inconsistent findings on the relationship between poverty and HPA-axis functioning early in life.

Method: The current study investigated the relations between family income, HPA-axis functioning, and attachment. The sample included 177 toddlers (80 females, Mage=15.33 months, SD=2.61 months, Range: 12-22 months). Parents reported on income and family size from which a percentage of the federal poverty limit (FPL; National Center for Children in Poverty) was calculated for each family. Salivary cortisol was collected at three points during well-child checkups with inoculations (at clinic arrival immediately following consent, immediately following the physician exam but before inoculation, and 20 minutes post inoculation). Trained researchers observed the parent-child interaction across the clinic visit and classified attachment immediately following the appointment via the Attachment Q-sort (Waters & Deane, 1985). Parents also reported on family negative life events (LEQ; Masten et al., 1991; Masten et al., 1993) and parental depressive symptoms (CES-D; Radloff, 1977).

Results: Approximately half of the toddlers were in families living below 150% FPL, with 47% of these children classified as securely attached. In contrast 72% of toddlers in families living above 150% FPL were classified as securely attached. For children with higher levels of secure attachment, lower depressive scores for the parent and lower cortisol levels at clinic arrival for the child were observed. Increased cortisol levels were observed in response to the inoculation. This observed increase did not differ by poverty or attachment style. However, linear mixed model results demonstrated toddlers in families living below 150% FPL who had an insecure attachment had significantly higher cortisol levels, b= -.20, t= -2.45, p<05, beginning at clinic arrival, than toddlers with secure attachments regardless of FPL. This finding held when families with high levels of negative life events (events > 4, n= 39; 22%) were removed as well as those with primary caregivers who endorsed depressive symptoms at threshold (score >16, n= 22; 12.9%). Further analysis included a two-way interaction of attachment and family income where attachment security was used as a continuous score. The findings remained significant.

Discussion: The results suggest attachment security moderates the relationship between poverty and HPA axis activity in early childhood. Furthermore, that attachment provides a powerful buffer of the stress system, and that this may be particularly important in disrupting poor outcomes for toddlers living in or near poverty.

Authors

• Anna B. Johnson, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  Presenting Author

• Shanna B. Mliner, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author

• Carrie E DePasquale, Institute of Child Development
  Non-Presenting Author

• Michael Troy, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author

• Megan Gunnar, University of Minnesota
  Non-Presenting Author