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Citation |
Tiwari A, Self-Brown S, Lai BS, McCarty C, Carruth L. Soc. Work Health Care 2018; 57(3): 137-163. |
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Affiliation |
Neuroscience Institute , Georgia State University , Atlanta , Georgia , USA. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
28891758 |
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Abstract |
Parental stress is an important risk factor for child maltreatment (CM) perpetration. Evidence-based, parent-training programs can decrease CM perpetration risk and reduce self-reported parental stress; however, little is known about how such programs impact physiological stress correlates. In this quasi-experimental pilot study, maternal biobehavioral responses were measured in response to SafeCare®, an evidence-based program targeting CM, often implemented by social workers in child welfare settings. Maternal participants (N = 18) were recruited to complete SafeCare and repeated within-subject assessments pre- and post-intervention. Analyses examined associations between self-reported parental stress and mental health symptomology with stress markers for cortisol, alpha-amylase, and dihydroepiandrosterone at baseline and follow-up. Baseline correlation analyses showed strong associations between parental stress, salivary cortisol levels, and alpha-amylase. At follow-up, significant correlations were found between parental stress and alpha-amylase for intervention completers (n = 7). Completers on average exhibited decreases across self-reported parental stress and global distress symptomology and improvements in salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase levels. Participants with impaired cortisol levels at baseline were within normal limits post-intervention. These pilot findings suggest that salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase are compelling physiological correlates of parental stress among high-risk parents. Language: en |
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Keywords |
Alpha-amylase; biomarkers; child maltreatment; cortisol; intervention; parenting stress |