1. Objectifs

Intentions :
« This longitudinal study aimed to examine the association between cortisol levels and CD [Conduct disorder] in adolescent mothers. » (p. 461)
« The current study aimed to longitudinally examine the same phenomenon, using salivary cortisol levels, in a sample (n = 228) of adolescent mothers who participated in a study (Paquette and Morrisson, 1998) of the development of infants in high-risk families. » (p. 462)

Questions/Hypothèses :
« We hypothesized that at 4 and 9 months postpartum, adolescent mothers with CD would have lower levels of salivary cortisol compared to a group of participants without CD. » (p. 462)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
- « The sample consisted of 228 adolescent mothers who participated in a 3-year longitudinal study (Paquette and Morrisson, 1998) of teenage mothers and their children. » (p. 462);
- Saliva samples;
- Données de la base de données longitudinales de « La Mère Veille » provenant de ces outils.
Instruments :
- NIHM Diagnostic Interview Schedule (C-DIS), version informatisée;
- Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS);
- Parenting Stress Index (PSI).

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

« Past research has shown that low levels of cortisol were associated with CD, particularly with its aggressive symptoms. » (p. 461)
This study is about the association between cortisol levels and conduct disorder in adolescent mothers.
« Results did not confirm the hypothesis. Lower cortisol levels were not significantly associated with a CD diagnosis, the number of CD symptoms, or aggressive symptoms. [...] Despite valid measures and strong statistical power, this study failed to find an association between cortisol levels and CD in a sample of adolescent mothers. The results may have been influenced by the fact that participants were 4 and 9 months postpartum and by comparisons of mothers with CD to mothers living in stressful circumstances. » (p. 461)