Resumen de Parenting and Cortisol in Infancy Interactively Predict Conduct Problems and Callous-Unemotional Behaviors in Childhood.

Nicholas J. Wagner, W. Roger Mills‐Koonce, Michael T. Willoughby, Martha J. Cox, Lynne Vernon-Feagans, Clancy Blair, Margaret R. Burchinal, Keith A. Crnic, Ann C. Crouter, Patricia Garrett‐Peters, Mark Greenberg, Jennifer L. Frank, Cynthia A. Stifter, Emily Werner, Stephanie T. Lanza, W. Roger. Mills-Koonce, The Family Life Project Key Investigators

• This study examines observed maternal sensitivity, harsh-intrusion, and mental-state talk in infancy as predictors of conduct problems (CP) and callous-unemotional (CU) behaviors in middle childhood, as well as the extent to which infants' resting cortisol and cortisol reactivity moderate these associations. Using data from the Family Life Project (n = 1,292), results indicate that maternal sensitivity at 6 months predicts fewer CP at first grade, but only for infants who demonstrate high levels of cortisol reactivity. Maternal harsh intrusion predicts fewer empathic-prosocial behaviors, a component of CU behaviors, but only for infants who demonstrate high resting cortisol. Findings are discussed in the context of diathesis-stress and differential susceptibility models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]