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 (AUCG). 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.